A.B. Combs was where The Leader in Me began so visiting there was a thrill.
Principal, Muriel Summers tells the story of how back in 1999 her school was a magnet school but not attracting many students. Her superintendent gave her a week to develop a new direction for the school. When the faculty discussed with the business leaders and community what they really wanted from graduates the characteristics they talked about all seemed to point to Leadership. Muriel had recently attended a seminar by Dr. Covey and she had wondered why people need to wait until they are adults to learn the 7 Habits. A.B. Combs began to teach Stephen R. Covey's 7 Habits, used Baldrige tools to work together, taught social skills and gave their students opportunities to be leaders. As they made changes, their enrollment increased, educators came to visit and other schools began to emulate what they learned at A.B. Combs. Stephen R. Covey visited the school and published the first book,
The Leader in Me in 2008 and the second edition was published in 2014. Now there are over 2000 schools around the world in The Leader in Me process. A.B. Combs has twice been chosen the number one Magnet school in the country.
After reading
The Leader in Me, and seeing videos from A.B. Combs for several years, it was such an amazing journey to be able to attend a Leadership Day there in 2012. The students greeted us with handshakes, singing and showed us around the school. Everywhere I looked, the walls displayed inspirational quotes and items honoring the leadership of their students and staff. Muriel Summers and her teachers are leaving a legacy to education and to the world.
A.B. Combs School Website:
http://combses.wcpss.net/
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