"Begin with the End in Mind" - Data on Display

Eureka School-Wide Reading Goal

Leader in Me Schools strive to "Begin with the End in Mind" by setting goals and monitoring progress toward those goals. Students keep their own goals and test results in their "Leadership Notebooks". Group goals and data are often displayed so that the students and staff are reminded of their clear, measurable objectives and can celebrate progress toward those goals. The most important goals are often called WIGS "Wildly Important Goals".  Here are some ways schools have measured and displayed their data in the hallways.

Bus Behavior

Class Goals

Visit Schools: Seeing is Believing

It is very helpful, especially for teachers and principals, to go visit Leader in Me schools. This is an opportunity for community members and educators to see and hear, first hand. how children and teachers are implementing The Leader in Me in their schools.

One of my favorite things to see on a Leadership Day is the students' notebooks sometimes called "Data Notebooks" or "Leadership Notebooks". In these notebooks the students often record their class and personal mission statements, their goals, and chart their progress toward their academic and behavioral goals. As a visitor, I recently had a chance to chat individually with his young lady who was eager to show me her progress.

When I visited my first school, I was very curious to see if the children really knew about and took to heart the 7 habits.  I wanted to hear from the children when there were no adults around. The first little six year I talked to blew me away with how she described "Begin with the End in Mind" and how she would use this habit in her life. After attending a Leadership Day, one teacher I worked with said with awe, "It is just like the book.  It seems too good to be true!"

Books to learn about The Leader in Me

Many people are introduced to The Leader in Me process by reading the book The Leader in Me 2nd Edition: How Schools Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time which was updated in 2014.   Before school faculties decide to commit to the The Leader in Me training, most schools organize a book study where the teachers and administrators read and discuss how other schools have implemented The Leader in Me and if they think the process would be helpful at their school.   It is important for the majority of teachers to support the concept before moving ahead

Elementary teachers find it very easy to try out the 7 Habits ideas with young children by reading The 7 Habits of Happy Kids.  Each habit is taught by using a story with captivating cartoon characters.

Teachers of older students have found The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens a good introduction for students as well as a fun book for the staff to read. The habits are described with lots of comical illustrations to keep the reader engaged. 

All of these books can be purchased on Amazon.com 

What is The Leader in Me?

The Leader in Me is a whole school transformational process based on Stephen Covey's work The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  This process is now being implemented in over 2000 schools across the globe. School culture transformation involves the commitment of the school faculty to learn and practice the seven habits and then teach them to their students.  In Leader in Me schools, students take ownership for their academic and behavior goals. They learn social skills and are given opportunities to be leaders. As a result, positive school behavior and academic achievement increases and teachers find renewed satisfaction. Teachers often say that this process enables them to be the teachers they always dreamed to be.   See www.theleaderinme.org

I was a school administrator in 2010 when I first read  The Leader in Me.  I admit, I was hooked just by the image that children could feel that there was a leader inside of each of them.  People were so open and kind to me as I began my journey to learn how schools were implementing it.  I am writing this blog to share what I am seeing and learning now visiting Leader in Me schools across the country.

After serving as a teacher, school counselor, principal and superintendent I now feel it is my mission to assist others in learning about The Leader in Me. I truly believe it is our best hope in helping our students lead fulfilling lives and thus making the world safer and happier for generations to come.

To see my earlier Leader in Me blog from 2011 see: http://ogsleaderinme.blogspot.com/