Washington Woods Elementary School, 17950 Grassy Branch Rd., Westfield, has set a goal to make its students the best academically and personally by creating “The Leader In Me initiative,” which uses Dr. Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” to transform the students, staff and community.
Now the school is looking to take the initiative to the next level – with a little financial assistance from the community.
“Infusing a school population with grit, perseverance and leadership skills is far more complicated than teaching an academic curriculum. But we now believe we have the answer,” said Dr. Scott Williams, Washington Woods Elementary principal.
The three-year FranklinCovey “The Leader in Me” school program, which was started in 1998 by a North Carolina principal, costs $75,000. Since starting its fundraising this fall, the school has received commitments totaling $20,000. Williams said the school has until March 1 to move forward.
“We are really just getting started and almost have a third of our three-year commitment,” he said.
Williams said the cost provides onsite training, supplemental materials and people from FranklinCovey visiting to work with staff and parents for at least three years. Donations, which are 100 percent tax-deductible, may be made to the Westfield Washington Schools Education Foundation.
“’The Leader in Me’ helps all students develop the confidence, leadership skills and other traits they will need to be successful in their personal lives and in a competitive global economy,” Williams said. “’The Leader in Me’ helps us help students to become responsible for themselves and their communities.”
Williams said his school has studied and discussed being a FranklinCovey “Leader in Me” school for more than three years. He said his staff approached him before the school year about moving forward. If successful, Washington Woods would be the only public school in central Indiana at this commitment stage.
“Nearly 2,000 U.S. schools and more internationally have begun or completed this training, but there are very few public schools in Indiana and none in our area,” he said. “We intend to reach the FranklinCovey Leadership School status and then go beyond that to become a Lighthouse School for the TLIM program, helping Westfield colleagues, neighboring districts and all Central Indiana schools realize the power of this work.”
Williams said the seven habits are taught from kindergarten to fourth-grade students. He said teachers utilize the habits based on their comfort level. One benefit with being a FranklinCovey Leadership School is training to make the program utilized in all classrooms.
“The seven habits help you be a better person and have people around you be better people,” fourth-grader Charlotte Greer said.
Greer said she like habit No. 4 (think win-win) the most.
“I use it with a lot of my friends at recess and during classwork,” she said. “Both get to do things you want to do. I also like habit No. 3 (put first things first), practicing first and then playing.”
After hearing about the school’s plan and current success, the Westfield City Council is providing assistance to the school’s “Leader In Me” initiative.
“It’s a good program,” said Councilor Steve Hoover. “I think about the way I try to live my life. I think it’s something we can definitely challenge to the community to match some amount.”
The council agreed to provide a $5,000 maximum matching grant. The money will be used for the school’s participation.
“The positive impact this program will have on our children goes beyond the schoolyard for this generation and beyond,” said City Council President Jim Ake. “This investment in our children will receive benefits far outweighing the initial cost. This initiative will add another aspect to our school district that makes it stand out from the rest, as one of the best districts in the state and in the country.”
For more information about donating, call 867-8000 or visit www.wws.k12.in.us.
