Sanders School program aims to bring out kids’ inner leader

‘Sharpen the saw.”

It’s a reminder you’d expect to see on a weekend to-do list or in a high school wood shop, not painted on the wall of a grade school cafeteria. But there it is at Mary Ann Sanders Elementary, along with messages including “Be proactive,” “Put first things first” and “Begin with the end in mind.”

These are among the “7 Habits of Healthy Kids,” part of the Leader in Me program used at the school. Though it launched only last year at Sanders, Leader in Me has roots that go back to the 1989 best-selling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” by Steven R. Covey. The principal of a failing elementary school in Raleigh, N.C., worked with FranklinCovey to adapt Covey’s work for children.

Laura Granger, Sanders School’s principal before Carrie Albert assumed the post at the start of the last school year, purchased the program and implemented it toward the end of her time at the school. Panda Express provided a three-year grant for the program, Albert said, and the PTO donated $5,000 toward it.

In simple terms, she said, Leader in Me is about teaching leadership skills to kids to help them guide their own learning. For instance, Sanders Elementary began a student committee to provide input on how to improve the school and how to solve problems that occur, she said. Students apply and interview for positions including library leaders, litter leaders, morning greeters who welcome classmates outside the school each morning, and Sailors Offering Solutions (students are the Sanders Sailors) who help with conflict management on the playground.

In all classrooms, the seven habits have been worked into the curriculum, Albert said. That odd-sounding “Sharpen the saw”? It just means taking time to take care of yourself, Albert said, and finding balance in life. The official Leader in Me wording is: “I take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I find meaningful ways to help others.”

Albert offered another concept: living within your circle of control rather than your circle of influence. “It’s basically focusing your attention on things you can control vs. things you can’t,” she said. “Let’s say your friend decides they don’t want to play with you that day. You can get upset and yell and get in a fight with that friend, but you could choose instead to just go play with another friend.”

“I have been impressed with the program at Sanders, so much so that the district set up a community tour last school year with Sanders’ Leader in Me as one of the focus programs toured,” said Sylvan Union School District Superintendent Debra Hendricks.

With just one full school year under its belt, Leader in Me has had a measurable effect, Albert said. “Our suspensions went down from 35 to 11 – a dramatic reduction,” she said. “And parent survey results show a high percentage of kids are applying these habits at home.”

While there are Leader in Me schools all over the world, Albert said, Sanders is the only school in Modesto using the program. It was the only one in the county until a Keyes school implemented it this year, she said.

Certainly “anyone can teach the seven habits,” Albert said. And ideas could be carried to other schools – she shared information with teachers at her previous school, Sherwood Elementary. “But to do it to the fidelity we are here,” she said, school staff would need the training that comes with joining the program. “We had at least five full days,” Albert said, and being part of Leader in Me gives the school access to a program coach, workbooks and online resources.

Hendricks said she’s pleased Albert sees the value in the program and has continued to carry it out. “The district always encourages schools to seek out sponsorships and PTA or PTO support to establish programs like Leader in Me or any other program with a positive focus to support student success.”

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Sanders School program aims to bring out kids’ inner leader."