Hillcrest Elementary School hosted Northeast Ohio’s first Leadership Day to show the community the qualities students are gaining through the recently added The Leader in Me program.

After beginning the new The Leader in Me program three years ago, Hillcrest aims to positively affect the children with the new program, which is based on the 7 Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey. A group of Hillcrest teachers make up the Lighthouse Team, which plans Leadership Day and implements The Leader in Me program. There are also five members on the Student Lighthouse Team who are all third graders. All Hillcrest teachers now use a picture book to teach the children the seven habits listed in the book, and they use the habits throughout their curriculum. Beth Harrington, assistant principal at Hillcrest and member of the Lighthouse Team, explained why Hillcrest began this new method to instill positive character traits in the students.

“We want to have some motivating force of people who can best live the habits and show their peers. One of our goals is to grow students’ leadership skills,” Harrington said.

Educators from all around Northeast Ohio attended Leadership Day, many of whom are considering adopting the program at their own school. Deidre Hitchins, a third grader teacher and member of the Lighthouse Team, noted the activities planned for Leadership Day.

“We [had] building tours where people [could] see how the seven habits are incorporated into classroom lessons. There [would] be hallway displays that exemplify leadership, as well as presentations, songs and a play. The whole day [was] student-run,” Hitchins said.

The Lighthouse Team sent the word out about the event through The Leader in Me website and by word of mouth and email. Harrington acknowledged that office referrals have gone down in the last three years, and that she often hears the kids using the language they learn through the habits throughout the school day. Principal of Hillcrest and member of the Lighthouse Team, Katie Kowza described the effects The Leader in Me program has had on the students.

“We have seen academic achievement by students following their own progress and also in their achievement tests. We received one of the highest scores we have ever received on the state report card…. We hope we are planting seeds of greatness and that we are setting a foundation for the future that will provide them with success no matter what they do,” Kowza said.

Rena Baker, a third grade teacher and another member of the Lighthouse Team, noted that the children are gaining confidence, organization, responsibility, awareness, goal-setting and empathy through The Leader in Me curriculum.

“The kids are sensing that we are relying on them more and believing in them – I see the kids feeling good about that,” Baker said.

Leadership Day took place October 17th at Hillcrest Elementary School.