Leadership becomes part of the basic curriculum at California Elementary
?CALIFORNIA — Leadership is being added to the basic skills being taught to elementary students in the California Area School District.
The California Area School Board has approved the Lighthouse School program for the elementary building which will train teachers in how to teach and to mirror Franklin Covey’s “7-Habits of Highly Effective Students.” California University of Pennsylvania is partnering with the school district, providing a grant for the teacher training while the district picks up the cost of student materials.
“The staff will be trained in the principles and incorporate those in all aspects of their teaching,” said elementary principal Michael Sears. “The goal is to push it down to the kid level so they are able to take the leadership role in their own life.”
Sears said that in the past he has put up posters with the seven habits on them around the school.
“That’s not enough. You’ve got to live it,” Sears said.
Sears said the seven habits, based on Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” include principles such as beginning with the end in mind and putting first things first. For the elementary school the first step is to train the teachers in the seven habits, using Franklin Covey’s book, “The Leader in Me” as the basis for the Lighthouse school concept. The teachers will receive five days of training spread out over the school year.
“It’s just a matter of us developing this common language and promoting it,” Sears said. “Everything we do is going to impact a child, whether it’s positive, negative or neutral, and by utilizing the seven habits, we become aware of that.”
Sears said being a Lighthouse School means taking the concepts beyond the classroom, creating an entire learning environment including the custodians, cafeteria workers, even the school board members.
“I want this to be something for these kids to be aware of from the time they get on the bus in the morning until they get home at night,” Sears said. “There will be some sort of activity to go with the development of a skill, but I want it to just become part of whatever they’re doing.”
Sears said the Lighthouse School program is geared specifically to the elementary level and will be applied in grades kindergarten through fourth in the district. He sees the possibility of it carrying over to the upper grade levels as the students progress, with the possible side benefits of improved academic performance and reduced behavioral problems.
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