The Leader in Me“Rippling Across the Globe

Chapter 6

Chapter 6This chapter tells how many different schools

throughout the nation and world incorporated the 7 Habits, and how each one is unique and different.  These schools span all cultures, and socioeconomic levels

Each school is adding their own unique signatures to the leadership role.  The chapter stressed how the teachers must have ownership.  They must live and love the 7 Habits and other leadership concepts.  They also must attach their own personality or voice to what they are teaching.  They must make it their own.  When we do this, it shows up in our language and in the way we handle discipline matters.  This is when the students begin feeling it and believing it. 

   At each of the schools mentioned, teachers have added their individual signatures.  They have their own models and their own philosophies based on their needs and strengths.  Every classroom has a different feel.  No teacher ever does things the same way.  When students feel the leadership theme is directed in their best interests, and when they feel their teacher has their potential in mind, students take a giant step forward towards being successful.

English Estates in Fern Park, Florida

Principal is a passionate visionarySchool was no longer considered a top schoolImplemented Leader in Me – District

involvementCommon language that the entire school sharesSpeed of school’s success both in culture and

academics

Chestnut Grove Elementary

Decatur, AlabamaPartnership with a successful business leader who

introduced school to “The Leader in Me”Visit to A. B. CombsStaff embraced the ideas in this program for they

felt it would benefit the students and the teachersThe 7 Habits were visible in school and reinforced

in fun waysOther schools in the district also implemented the

progam

Adams County, IllinoisDr. George Meyer – taught the 7 Habits to his

college students, who in turn did activities in schools with students. Teacher’s began using the language of the 7 Habits, and it became a common language of the school

Before school assemblyScores were impacted by the 7 HabitsNow 1 of 8 schools in their district using this

program

CanadaTrained in the habits in chunks over a period of time. Started using with students like A. B. CombsSecond year, they integrated and blended habits into

all subject areas“Catch Someone Doing Covey”Have seen most change in students in how they

resolve conflictMore schools in area are now implementing the

program

SingaporeChua Chu Kang Primary School in Singapore –

2,200 students with an average of 40 students per class

Ministry of Education approved training in 7 Habits for all teachers. Around 10 thousand teachers took the offer of training

Singapore has a national curriculum – teachers have taken creative steps to insert the 7 Habits

All grades exposed, but focused on upper grades

Internationally HappeningTimboon Elementary in AustraliaEuropeMultiple parts of AsiaThe 7 Habits are quickly growing in the US, and

even more outside of the US.“These principles are universal. They span all

cultures, all creeds, and all socioeconomic levels.”

Their SignatureEach school, each teacher must have ownership

of the program“This is not an off-the shelf program that the

teacher stands up and regurgitate verbatim.”In general all models will look similar to A. B.

Combs’, but all will have a unique signature . . .Every classroom will have a different feel . . .The important thing in the end – what the

students feel . . .

Southview ElementaryTuscaloosa, AL

What will be OUR signature?What will our students feel?What will be the feel of your classroom?

What do we want?“In years to come, your students may forget

what you taught them. But they will always remember how you made them feel.” (sign in A. B. Combs faculty room)

This quote sums it up best,

“What we all are looking for when we embrace this process is the same, but our paths are a little different given our unique terrains.”  Gailya Winters, A.B. Combs Elementary