Kyra Fox is a 7 year old non-verbal Autistic girl. She is in grade 2 and communicates using sign language and with a computer talker.  Her smile and laugh brighten the days of many, and inspire all those who come into contact with her.Every couple of years each school in our District is required to make a report to the Board of Trustees.  Our Vision Statement proclaims that all of our children ...

Classroom Ideas from English Estates

Teachers at English Estates weave the 7 Habits into everything they do.  We hope that by sharing some of our best practices, you will have continued success on your leadership journey.Beth Sharpe, PrincipalEnglish Estates Elementary, FL

Curriculum:  Writing Assignments

Students write about their favorite habits, how book and story characters use the habits, and...

At Stuard Elementary, students apply for LEAD opportunities. Good judgment, excellent school attendance, dependability, reliability, and upstanding citizenship in and out of school are traits we look for when filling the positions. Students who are offered positions sign a contract detailing leadership behavior and performance expectations. LEAD roles are highly regarded and give our students a...

Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind, has written a new book titled The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. In his book Pink cites a company that has put “FedEx Days” in place. Periodically this company gives its software developers 24 hours to work any way they choose with the understanding that they will share the results with the rest of the company at the end of the 24 hours. They ...

Recently we held a Leader in Me Vision Day for 175 participants from Vestal High School---teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, clerical, custodians, and parents. Through careful planning, we set the stage and customized the day for a secondary audience. I hope that you find the information helpful.Mary M. SurdeyAsst. Superintendent for Instruction, Vestal Central School District• The Le...

Recently our local newspaper published this article. We are thrilled whenever the community is made aware of our great program at Moulton. Remember to let your local press know of the wonderful things going on in your school![caption id="attachment_371" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Listen Before You Talk..."]community_awareness_1
[/caption]“Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Unders...

Like some Intermediate students in Grade 7, a boy in our school was starting to shut down, not completing work, and beginning to act out. His teacher tried many different things to help him, without much success. She decided to get him involved in a process to see if he could change and work to his potential.  The teacher came to me to see if I would be able to sit and work with them to help cr...

This sign sits on the desks of numerous school administrators. It has always brought a bit of a sad smile to my face because there is so much truth behind it. The role of data in schools is mandated, and essential. Every organization needs to track progress, or lack thereof. What concerns me is the “soft skills” such as teamwork, creativity, adaptability, accountability, leadership, initiative,...

Everyone in our K-8 school has been trained in the 7 Habits—teachers, administrator, secretary, custodian, educational assistants, teacher librarian, and parent reps.  Giving all school members ownership of the leadership culture has encouraged creativity and teamwork.*For example, our third and fourth grade teachers spend the first 15 minutes of each morning catching up with five students on a...