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Wetzel County educators pitch countywide 'Leader in Me' program to build student leadership
Summary
Educators told the board the Leader in Me program will be embedded across K–12, centered on WIGs and daily short lessons; presenters said the program aims to improve attendance, math performance and student ownership while creating 'lighthouse' schools.
Educators from multiple Wetzel County schools described the Leader in Me program and urged countywide adoption, saying it teaches leadership and life skills using short daily modules and a Friday leadership notebook.
"The program itself, teaches the kids leadership skills and life skills that they can use going into jobs, going into college," said a county presenter (speaker S13). Presenters explained that each school will develop a WIG — a "wildly important goal" — and that the district hopes to certify a small number of "lighthouse" schools that meet the program's benchmarks.
Board members pressed presenters on implementation, scheduling and cost. "Is funding required to support the initiative?" asked a board member (S3). Presenters said the county approved part of the budget and that much of the program is curricular and can be embedded into lesson plans: "It takes 15, 20 minutes a day... Monday through Thursday they're getting a new lesson," one presenter (S13) said. They added that parent lighthouse teams and guest speakers are planned to extend the program beyond classrooms.
The board discussed measurement and goals. At Valley High School presenters said their initial WIGs focus on attendance and math; county administrators said they will develop lighthouse teams for staff, students and parents and increase public celebration of successes. The board did not vote a separate funding measure at the meeting but generally signaled support for continued rollout and evaluation.
