Program at Scott City schools helps foster skills in students

As a way of accentuating the positive, Scott City Elementary and Middle schools have been using a program called The Leader in Me. As the name implies, the program cultivates leadership, communication, collaboration, problem-solving and being proactive.

The Leader in Me is in place in kindergarten through eighth grade. Each Monday, students from classes in the various grades lead an assembly, setting up the sound system and leading the Pledge of Allegiance, among other things.

And classes participate in Fellowship Friday, where they do a community service, such as making cards for veterans at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. Reader Leaders, where third- and fourth-grade students read words of wisdom over the public address system Tuesday through Friday, and having students lead parent-teacher conferences, are other aspects of the program.

The program incorporates the children's version of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," called "The Seven Habits of Happy Kids" written by Steven Covey's son, Sean.

Clubs that have stemmed from Leader in Me are the Honor Club, Drama Club, Science Explorers and Ram Club, a leadership group, Scott City Elementary principal Courtney Kern said.

Cameron Senn raises his hand to be picked for a dodge ball team Friday at Scott City Elementary School. (Laura Simon)

The program affects 350 students at the elementary school and 235 in the middle school, plus high school teachers are trained in it, Kern said.

The district's dress code came into play around the same time as The Leader in Me.

"It's like all of those things fell together. The expectations with the dress code, the expectations with The Leader in Me program, the community service things; all the clubs and organizations that came out of it," Kern said.

In the elementary school, those include the Honor Choir, Science Explorers, Drama Club, Art Club and Ram Club, which is a leadership club.

Fourth-graders Kasie Daigger, Christian Elbrecht and Cheyenne Rhodes all like the program and all said it's improved the atmosphere of the campus since it began because it helps children learn how to treat and respect others.

"I think it's pretty good. I like The Leader in Me because we learn about the environment and what it takes to be a leader and how we can grow up to be a good person," Daigger said. "It shows how we can grow up, what it's like in the real world and it teaches before time what it's like."

It's also helped combat bullying, the children agree.

Daigger said any time a student picks on a peer, another person reminds them of The Leader in Me.

When students present the assembly, the adults in the room don't expect it to be perfect, "because they're children and they're just practicing their presentation skills," Kern said.

"It's also problem-solving," she added. "If the mic doesn't work, what's plan B?"

Lori Rubel, whose first-grade class led the assembly on a recent Monday, said all 24 of her students were excited about getting their chance in the spotlight. Everyone had an idea of what they wanted to do, or which part they wanted to lead.

Her class acted as greeters, flag bearers and song leaders for the national anthem.

"I've noticed a lot of them, the one that first grade really picks up on is being proactive. ... Being proactive is being in charge of yourself, so if there's something that you need," you can be proactive to "take care of yourself in pretty much all circumstances."

Because of the program, Rubel said she thinks all the students have the potential to become leaders of all different stripes.

"It kind of gives them an edge, maybe, to other peers who don't have those skills," she said.

Seven-year-old Sara Baine was proud to be part of the assembly and when Rubel told the class they were going to be the presenters, she and her classmates got excited -- and loud -- because they knew they would have to speak up.

"I thought it was fun. You know how you get really scared because you're in a big audience? ... That's how all of us felt," she said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

3000 Main St., Scott City, Mo.