Leader in Me

What is Leader In Me?

Franklin Covey’s ‘Leader In Me’ program focuses on developing leadership skills in students through the integration of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into school curriculum and culture. The global program focuses on developing well-rounded students who are prepared to succeed in all areas of their lives. The Leader In Me program extends to the adults in our district as well, and regular professional development is provided to ensure our entire school community models the leadership tenets we teach to our students. As of August 2024, only 18 schools in Western New York have the distinction of being Leader in Me schools - five of those belonging to Sweet Home. You can see a full map of Leader in Me schools here.

What does it look like in our buildings?

The implementation of the 7 habits of Leader In Me looks like many different things in our buildings. You will find student-led presentations, student-planned events, leadership committees of students, and even student-led parent teacher conferences. We also host Leadership Day in many of our buildings, an exciting culminating event  when parents and families are invited in to learn more about the work students have been doing all year. These days are meticulously planned by our students who work together to choose a theme and plan activities for the day.

What is 'Lighthouse Certification'?

Lighthouse Certification is awarded to schools that have gone above and beyond to demonstrate a commitment to implementing the principles of the program. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff, students, and parents involved. It highlights our commitment to fostering leadership skills in our students and to creating a positive and empowering learning environment.

To achieve Lighthouse status, schools must undergo a rigorous evaluation process that assesses their implementation of the Leader In Me program. This includes demonstrating how the school has integrated the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into its curriculum and school culture. We are proud to say that Glendale Elementary, Willow Ridge Elementary, and Maplemere Elementary have achieved Lighthouse status, with our other buildings actively working toward certification.

Glendale Elementary was recently featured in our district magazine, Sweet Home Source, highlighting their path to certification.