Leader in Me in La Villa
August 20, 2009
“I know you all are professionals,” said Superintendent Norma Salaiz to her LVISD staff. “But the way each one participated and presented showed real leadership. I’m very proud of you.”
Leadership was the word of the day on
August 18, when all district employees gathered at the high school
cafeteria to read Stephen Covey’s new book, The Leader in Me. It
features several schools from around the world where Covey’s famous
seven habits of highly effective people are taught to children as
young as five and six.
Staff members were assigned to small
groups, with each team responsible for reading a different chapter.
All groups generated chapter summaries, discussion questions, and
Power Point presentations.
“In my 20 years at La Villa, I’ve never seen this level of
synergy,” said curriculum assistant Juan Guajardo. “I believe it’s
a sign of positive things to come.”
Before starting their group work, all members memorized and
rehearsed Covey’s seven habits, led by the elementary school
personnel, who had learned them the day before:
1. Be proactive.
2. Start with the end in mind.
3. Put first things first.
4. Think win, win.
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
6. Synergize.
7. Sharpen the saw.
“People were able not just to learn the
habits,” said district administrator Fernando Gómez. “They actually
put into practice what they were learning.”
All team members seemed to be actively engaged throughout the experience. People stayed on task and kept in mind what their charge was. At the end, a sense of accomplishment seemed to pervade through the assembly.
“It was great to see how we all participated,” said first year
teacher Katrina Figoroa. “Everybody had a chance to work together
and give their input.”
