G. Weaver Hipps Elem is one of more than 20 in Lee County to embrace the “Leader in Me” movement, which school Principal Aida Saldivar emphasized is not a curriculum.
“Leader in Me” is based on the principles of Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” and it promotes the habits in a kid-friendly format.
Be proactive
Begin with the end in mind
Put first things first
Think win-win
Seek first to understand, then to be understood
Synergize
Sharpen the saw
Worldwide, there are 2,770 schools working with the “Leader in Me” program, including at least 19 traditional public or charter schools in Lee County. The Covey Foundation reports that 241 schools across the globe have reached Lighthouse designation, meaning they are model schools.
Two Lee schools have reached Lighthouse level — Skyline Elementary in Cape Coral and San Carlos Park Elementary in Fort Myers.
Principal Saldivar, who is in her second year at G. Weaver Hipps, came from San Carlos Park. Seeing the opportunity to bring another school to the fold, she tested the waters at the Lehigh School last year.
Next year, the school will put together a team of students to help reach this goal. In the coming weeks, students will host a parent education night at the school, in which they will help introduce and teach their moms and dads about the program.
While it will be a long process, Principal Saldivar is looking forward to the challenge.
“The prize is in the process,” she said, “not in the end result.”