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Mechanics Grove Elementary in Mundelein, Illinois was very excited to hear that they were just named a Lighthouse School. They are the first Lighthouse School in the Chicagoland area. It has not been easy road for them to become a Leader in Me School. In 2010, the teachers at K-5 Lincoln Elementary in Mundelein were learning about the 7 Habits from their principal Dr. Kathleen Miller. The teachers were moving ahead providing their students opportunities to be leaders and teaching the 7 Habits when district fiscal concerns led to the closing of Lincoln School. The next Fall, Dr. Miller was reassigned as principal at Mechanics Grove Elementary as a 3rd-5th school with some of the Lincoln teachers and the existing Mechanics Grove teachers who had their own traditions which did not include The Leader in Me. The future of The Leader in Me was uncertain, but by the end of the school year, the teachers all agreed to use the The Leader in Me theme to unite and form a new school family with the Mechanics Grove staff, students and parents. District leadership supported the Mechanics Grove Staff training in Leader in Me and 7 Habits. Students and parents embraced the leadership theme and the teachers integrated the 7 Habits into their morning meetings with students, all areas of the curriculum, and into their school behavior and culture. Using the 7 Habits and developing leadership across the entire school community transformed the culture and the newly united school with one goal—unleashing the potential inherent in each child! Since the implementation of The Leader in Me behavior referrals to the office have significantly dropped. Reading and math growth targets have exceeded expectations.
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| Path of Leadership mural with staff and student sole prints. |
After their first formal Leader in Me year, to symbolize their path of leadership, each graduating 5th grader and staff member made a clay tile with the print from the sole of their shoe. The clay mural hangs in the school lobby.
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| Mechanics Grove displays their traditions. |
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| Students displayed their Science Projects |
One tradition is an annual Mechanics Grove Science Night for students and parents. On February 26, 2015 Mechanics Grove school was alive with parents, students and staff. The theme of the night was "Science, It's Your Turn to Change The World." Students displayed their science projects and teachers invited local medical and other experts to teach science concepts. I especially enjoyed meeting Mr. Miller, Principal Miller's husband who is a pilot and guided the students as they tried landing planes on a simulator.
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| Students learn about aviation from the principal's husband. |
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The medical community provided hands-on science.
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Due to their school's leadership, i
n November 2014, Mechanics Grove Elementary School was chosen to host Sean Covey who spoke at The Leader in Me Book Tour.
Principal: Dr. Kathleen Miller
Mechanics Grove School Web Site:
http://www.d75.lake.k12.il.us/index.aspx?nid=170
