LeGore parent Irma Colin – who has been part of the school's Leader in Me program since it launched in 2016 – meets monthly with other parents for Leader in Me workshops.
The sessions guide parents in supporting their children’s application of “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People” at home, such as tackling chores before play (Habit: First things first).
“I see the difference in my two girls. They are so focused,” Colin said. “They tell me we have to do our homework first and then we can have fun. It’s first things first. They set goals for each week.”
Colin said her daughters – third-grader Anabelle and fourth-grader Analia – make plans for completing tasks, such as achieving school reading targets, and then execute them to ensure success (Habit: Begin with the end in mind).
Colin shared her experiences with Leader in Me with representatives of the leadership program when they visited the school in March to interview staff, students and parents as part of the school's Lighthouse certification. The two-year certification has been awarded to about 300 schools worldwide.
Leader In Me adapts lessons from Stephen R. Covey’s landmark book to promote achievement and develop well-rounded learners and life-ready leaders. The program, active in multiple countries, includes training for teachers, staff and family to strengthen student academic outcomes and social-emotional growth.
LeGore was the first school in El Monte City School District to adopt the Leader in Me program in 2016-17. A year later, the program was launched across the District.