The Leader In Me
2015-2016 Klager LIM Review
Why Leader in Me?
The idea of a common language and a desire for kind and caring leaders brought our staff to the Leader In Me program. Everywhere we looked we found Character Education Programs or initiatives to manage behavior . We knew we needed something to support our student's academics and social emotional skills. Two years ago Jennifer Mayes brought a book study to our building. We shared and discussed the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. We then studied the Leader in Me. Steven Covey spent many years sharing his philosophy of an effective life and his son Sean Covey brought this to the schools. A majority of the staff shared the insights and felt this was a path that we could take together. A path that promoted the ability of every child to be a leader in their own life and in our school.
So with some great training, an amazing staff and students who deserved the best, we began our journey.
Why we do what we do:
- Every student has talents and strengths, and as educators, it is our role to help students discover them.
- Students who are engaged with school and have aspirations are more likely to be academically motivated
- Students who are given a voice in the school are more likely to be academically motivated (7 times more likely; Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations, 2013–2014).
- Leadership and responsibility at school increase student self-confidence.
- Learner-centered classrooms increase students’ rate of learning (2 times more likely; Cornelius-White, 2007; Hattie, 2009).
From the Leader in Me Blog: April 20, 2016 | Judy Yauch
Leader In Me Training
August 2015, the staff of Klager Elementary ventured to the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) building to meet with Terry Taylor. Terry is a trainer for the Franklin Covey Leader In Me organization. We experienced three days of Steven Coveys 7 Habits training. The first days were focused on the participants. We were asked to work on the habits and apply them to our lives and teaching situation. We also spent time learning how to share the habits in our classrooms and school. The staff was a mix of building staff and faculty. Each day we shared lunch together and talked about what we were learning.
The training was very focused and the pace was strict, to allow for reflection and sharing. We were introduced to the online component of Leader in Me. Each day we focused on a new handbook filled with pictures and resources. I believe they understand that teachers need to see who it works and then tweak things for their situation. This training gave me opportunities to think outside of my current safety net. This is the first initiative that I have been a part of that had such comprehensive training.
We meet with Mr. Taylor almost three weeks later as the Light House Team to discuss our role and make a few outlines of how we might proceed.
Leadership Day/ Community Leadership Day
Sean Covey shares the following in his newsletter:
"The purpose of a Leadership Event is not foremost for the visitors; it is for the kids. So, what is the purpose of a Leadership Day or Leadership Events in general? To answer that question, let’s return to A.B. Combs Elementary, where The Leader in Me originated. If you’d ask A.B. Combs Principal Muriel Summers, she’d tell you that this began as a developmental opportunity for her students to practice their leadership skills through speaking, singing, talking to visitors, guiding tours, setting up equipment, and exhibiting their talents. It also served as a way of building the school’s culture by bringing everyone together."
You will notice the purpose of a Leadership Event is not foremost for the visitors; it is for the kids.
The 7 Habits Tree
Habit 1 "Be Proactive" You're in charge
Habit 2 "Begin with the end in mind" Have a plan
Habit 3 "Put first things first" Work first, then play
Habit 4 "Think Win-Win" Everyone can win
Habit 5 "Seek first to understand, then to be understood" Listen before you talk
Habit 6 "Synergize" Together is better
Habit 7 "Sharpen the saw" Balance feels best
Leadership Roles
OUR FAVORITE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS:
Peer tutors
Morning line up supporters
Student Announcers
school photographers
event docents
event speakers
Leadership Workshops
Next year week will have direct classroom lessons daily and weekly meetings either by grade level or as a school. The direct lessons will be a combination of principal lead and teacher/student creations.
Lighthouse Committee
Luther C. Klager is appreciative to the members of our Lighthouse Team. This group of staff members have had an additional day of training and meet bi-monthly. The team identified the school needs and helps to set our calendar. Next year they will lead our group through DATA/Leadership Notebooks and leaderizing many of our current events.
The Lighthouse committee sends a member with the principal to the Community Coaching days in neighboring districts. The coaching days are a great way to share with other schools in the startup stages of Leader in Me.
Year Two: Goal setting and Student Led Conferences
As a part of our grant and training, we move to the second phase of our journey. We ask students and staff to create a Leadership notebook to track their success. We will ask the students to list Leadership roles, track their attendance, and set goals for assessments.
From the Leader in Me Blog article: Partner With Students to Empower Education Ownership
April 20, 2016, | Judy YauchIn Leader in Me Schools, students are empowered to take ownership of their learning. Through goal setting, tracking, and reflecting in Leadership Notebooks and Student-Led Conferences, students become an integral part of the learning process. They recognize their strengths, challenges, interests, and learning preferences. This builds a strong sense of self-efficacy and the confidence to take on more of a leadership role in their learning.