Stavely Elementary School named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School

By Rob Vogt
Stavely Elementary School has been certified as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education.
At the school’s track and field day on May 29, Leanne Watson, principal of the school, told students, their families, and staff they had achieved this recognition.
“We had to go through a test to see if we are a Lighthouse school,” she said through a megaphone to all those gathered. “Guess what?
“We are a Lighthouse school.”
The students erupted in cheers at the announcement.
“I am so proud of you,” said Janice Binmore, a town councillor and volunteer at the school. “I know how hard you worked.
“Congratulations.”
Students were then treated to cake in the shape of a lighthouse, and a slip and slide put on by the Stavely Fire Department.
This recognition is evidence the school has produced outstanding results in school and student outcomes, and because of the extraordinary impact the school is having on staff, students, parents, and the greater community.
Leader in Me is an evidence-based Kindergarten to Grade 12 model, developed in partnership with educators, designed to build resilience and leadership in students, create a high-trust culture, and help improve academic achievement. This model equips students, educators, and families with the leadership and life skills needed to thrive, adapt, and contribute in a dynamic world.
Leader in Me unites students, staff, and families around a common goal to prepare students with college-, career-, and life-readiness skills that are necessary to thrive in today’s ever-changing, fast paced environment.
With Leader in Me, students learn to become self-aware, interdependent, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, do their homework, prioritize their time, be considerate of others, communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences, live a balanced life, and contribute to society.
“We are honoured to have been certified as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School,” Watson said in a news release from FranklinCovey Education.
“We have seen amazing results from implementing the Leader in Me model at our school, such as our students proudly showcasing their learning at our annual Celebration of Learning in March of each school year, our Leadership Day and Public Speaking Showcase, and the many student-led clubs and initiatives at the school and within the community.
“Prior to our Leader in Me framework, most of our students were fearful of public speaking and now they all jump at the chance to pick up the mic whether it be for our school assemblies or more formal ceremonies such as our Christmas Concert or Remembrance Day Ceremony. This model has had a significant impact on all students. And we expect to see greater results over time.”
Within the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education community, it is common for schools to receive recognition for outstanding achievement. Lighthouse Certification is a highly regarded standard that is attainable by every Leader in Me School.
Schools that achieve the certification are great examples of a strong leadership model. They have experienced significant measurable results, aligned to their goals, through implementation of the principles and practices in Leader in Me. Schools typically apply for this certification three to five years after a school begins the Leader in Me model.
FranklinCovey Education has designed the Lighthouse Rubric to establish high standards for quality and, ultimately, school outcomes.
Schools use the Lighthouse Rubric to measure outcomes in three areas: teaching leadership principles, creating a leadership culture, and aligning academic systems. Schools also measure their success in relation to their unique school. Lighthouse Schools serve as examples to their community and to other schools.
Since its official launch, more than 7,000 public, private, and charter schools across 70 plus countries have adopted the Leader in Me model, over 700 of which have achieved the prestigious Lighthouse Certification. It is earned by schools demonstrating that:
• The principal, school administration, and staff engage in ongoing learning and develop as leaders, while championing leadership for the school.
• Leadership principles are effectively taught to all students through direct lessons, integrated approaches, and staff modeling. Students are able to think critically about, and apply, leadership principles.
• The school community is able to see leadership in the physical environment, hear leadership through a common language, and feel leadership through a culture of caring, relationships, and affirmation.
• Leadership is shared with students through a variety of leadership roles. Student voice leads to innovations within the school.
• Schoolwide, classroom, family, and community leadership events provide authentic environments to celebrate leadership, build culture, and allow students to practice leadership skills.
• Students lead their own learning with the skills to assess their needs, set appropriate goals, and carry out action plans. They track progress toward goals in leadership notebooks and share these notebooks with adults in student-led conferences.
• Teacher planning and reflection, trusting relationships, and student-led learning combine to create environments for highly engaged learning.
Stavely Elementary School will maintain its Lighthouse Certification for two years and will continue to foster its growth and proficiency in exemplifying a leadership culture and principles. At the end of the two years the school will recertify its Lighthouse Certification through a virtual self-assessment, describing and celebrating its growth and accomplishments since its original Lighthouse designation.

Leanne Watson, principal of Stavely Elementary School, announces to students, their families and staff at the school’s track and field day on May 29, that the school has achieved the prestigious Leader in Me Lighthouse School designation. Photo by Rob Vogt