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District presents "Leader in Me" rollout and early outcomes at elementary schools
Summary
District staff updated the board on expansion of the Leader in Me whole-school framework across 20 elementary schools, reported site-visit feedback noting improved student leadership and behavior trends, and outlined plans for lighthouse reviews and a community learning day at Proctor Elementary.
Dr. Kevin Le, presenting to the Independence 30 Board of Education, outlined the district's plan to implement the Leader in Me framework across elementary schools as part of the district's CESIP goal to advance all elementary sites to Core 3 by 2028. Leader in Me, he said, integrates leadership development, academics and social-emotional learning and is tied to campus improvement work districtwide.
Dr. Le said the program uses annual MRA assessments of staff, students and families to guide site plans and track progress. "When you change the way you see things it influences what you do and the results that you get," he told the board, quoting Leader in Me materials as part of his overview of the program's seven (now eight) habits.
He reported that consultant Maria Fleming's December site visits showed several schools implementing Core One practices, delivering lessons at all grade levels and assigning student leadership roles. Dr. Le said those practices are "paying off" in improved student behavior and school culture, though he cautioned against attributing all change to a single program: behavior incidents show a downward trend districtwide but multiple interventions and staff efforts contribute to that result.
Board members asked about the MRA response rate and supporting behavior data. Dr. Le said the district can layer the MRA findings with the district's culture-and-climate surveys and building-level behavior metrics to provide a fuller picture, and that deeper analysis will be part of spring planning for lighthouse coordinators and principals.
Proctor Elementary, an early adopter, will host a Leader in Me community learning day in conjunction with the district's Founders Day activities; a formal lighthouse review at Proctor is scheduled for March 12.
The presentation included a listing of schools at various stages of lighthouse and core progression, and Dr. Le named facilitators, coaches and coordinators leading training across sites. The board praised the work and asked staff to bring follow-up data showing response rates and behavior-trend metrics when available.
The board moved on after a brief question-and-answer period; no formal action on the program was required at this meeting.
