Two educational administrators from Colegio Nueva Granada in Columbia, South America paid a visit to Merrimac Elementary School earlier this month to observe the school’s “Leader In Me” program.
Colegio Nueva Granada is interested in starting the same program, facilitated through Franklin Covey. Tom Spence, the Principal, and Dr. Ed Habegger, Superintendent, began the day with Merrimac’s Lighthouse Team, then toured the building with students, sat through a question and answer period and observed countless students talk about their “Leader In Me” experiences.
“The Leader in Me process is about creating leaders and modeling the seven habits in our daily work,” said Merrimac Principal Veronica DeCicco. “It has created a common language and understanding which is the basis of our school vision.”
Students showed the guests how the Seven Habits are linked to all we do and learn each day. This is Merrimac’s third year with the program and you can see the difference it has made in the school’s culture.
“As we visited a number of classrooms, led by an impressive trio of school student leaders who were acting as our tour guides, it was evident that the school was very engaged in using common language and strategies to create an environment where students not only learned the 7 habits,” Spence said, “but were also empowered to make a positive impact in their own individual sphere of influence. All in all, the morning was very helpful, educational and enjoyable for Dr. Habegger and me and we want to especially thank Ms. DiCicco for the time and effort she took to set it up.”
This year they are implementing leadership notebooks with all of our students. It links directly with the Common Core standards. Students are setting academic and personal WIGs, which are Wildly Important Goals and teachers are teaching them how to track them. Students are being inspired to look for ways to succeed in areas they have had some difficulty mastering.
“We are adopting a growth mindset and meeting the challenges of the Common Core head on,” said DeCicco. “The Seven Habits keeps us anchored in this important work.”
