SHELBY — A program launched during COVID has become a foundational piece of the Shelby City School District.
Leader in Me, a “comprehensive PK–12 framework that nurtures student leadership, fosters a culture of trust, and boosts academic success,” integrates practices across areas of leadership, culture and academics, according to its website.
At Monday’s Shelby Board of Education meeting, five district middle school students presented how the program has been implemented into daily activities.
Alivia Hicks, Keegan Schroeder, Paysen Sensmeier, Eliana Guertler and Brinley Korbas provided board members with a glimpse of the program’s “7 Habits.”
Last week, the group of students — along with four others — shared the same presentation at Liberty-Benton Local Schools. A multitude of districts involved with Leader in Me were also in attendance.
“It was really a nice day for our kids to get to go to a different district and see (the program) at the middle school level,” said Shelby Assistant Superintendent Paul Walker.
(Below is the presentation shared by Shelby Middle School students Monday evening at the Shelby Board of Education meeting.)
Implementing the 7 Habits
Leader in Me’s seven habits are as follows; Be Proactive, Begin With the End in Mind, Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, Synergize and Sharpen the Saw.
Schroeder explained how middle school students use these habits each day.
“We balance our time between classes and make sure each class we have enough time to learn, work, help others and try our best,” he said.
Several of the seven habits are applicable within the classroom, as well athletics.
Korbas, an eighth-grader, said students apply what they learn from the program to make sports “more fun for everyone.”
“We use Think Win-Win (one of the 7 Habits) because this helps everybody on our team and on the other team. Also, using habit six, Synergize, we work as a team to reach a common goal we all have,” she said.
If a student is stuck on a problem in class, their classmates can Synergize to work together to figure out the answer, Schroeder added.
Shelby Board of Education President Scott Rose thanked the students for their efforts and desires to be leaders.
“Not everybody wants to do that and that’s okay, but I commend you guys and gals for wanting to be a part of the solution,” Rose said.
November Student Spotlight
In other action Monday, the Shelby Board of Education recognized district students from grades 3-5 in its Student Spotlight.
3rd grade:
— Max Broderdorp
— Seamus Hansen
4th grade:
— Aryiah Dowell
5th grade (Student Leadership Team):
— Makenzie Crabtree
— Linsey Gates
— Raelynn Coy
— Joslyn Willison
— Audrey Gerber
— Kenslie Sampson
— Leta Keller
— Audree Hershberger
— Layla Carver
— Nora Egner