Highland Elementary faculty went back to school this week to learn the ABCs of an acclaimed student leadership program.
The workshop, held at Highland Elementary, introduced faculty to The Leader in Me. Modeled on Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” The Leader in Me has reached more than 3,000 schools worldwide.
Darelle Price, leadership consultant, led the Monday session with a lesson on positive, proactive language. This was the first of seven “habits” that the program outlines for student and faculty success.
At tables topped with nametags, spiral notebooks, Crayola markers and Elmer’s Glue, faculty took notes.
Highland Elementary was one of four St. Landry Parish elementary schools chosen to receive funding for The Leader in Me.
Nine St. Landry Parish schools applied for the 2017-2018 program. To be selected, schools had to meet the criteria of having a dedicated faculty and needing improvement in attendence, behavior or academic competence.
St. Landry-Evangeline United Way, United Way of Acadiana and the St. Landry Parish School District are sponsoring the program.
Highland Elementary principal Lorie Ledoux sees the program as an opportunity to better the school and its students.
“We want to develop leadership skills within the children here so that they know they have the ability to be successful and it’s OK to be an individual,” LeDoux said. “We’re going to give them responsibilities in order to build those skills.”
The Leader in Me bridges leadership skills with curriculum. Children will learn how to be responsible for their schoolwork and how to set (and reach) concrete goals. The program should build self-esteem, improve study habits and teach decision-making, LeDoux said.
LeDoux believes the program will be effective for students as well as staff. Teachers, cafeteria staff and custodial staff all had to be on board, Ledoux said.
“We have to be more positive and solution-minded. If we’re going to teach this to our children, we have to do this ourselves,” LeDoux said.
New to town, Diedra Mixon came to Highland Elementary after teaching in Lafayette. Raised in Opelousas, Mixon was drawn to Eunice for its small-town appeal.
Mixon, who teaches fourth-grade, seems eager to put the program into practice. Her goal as a teacher is, after all, “to have the kids more career- and college-ready.”
Mixon plans to run her classroom so that students will learn resonsibility through everyday tasks. “Instead of classroom helpers, they are classroom leaders. The program will help them be accountable for their learning,” she said.
The United Way of Acadiana has already brought The Leader in Me to 35 schools. The program has been successful at Martin Petijean Elementary in Rayne and Ross Elementary in Crowley, for example.
LeDoux visited Ross Elementary during one of its “leadership days.” She praised students for taking initiative, without adult help.
“The students conducted everything. They explained everything. They’re taught speaking skills. It’s phenomenal,” she said.
LeDoux is confident that Highland Elementary will see the same success.