November 13, 2024
Gilbert Intermediate Principal Amy Griffin failed in one respect as she walked to the front of the room, turned, and looked at the building teachers who sat comfortably scattered throughout the library on an October afternoon.
She forgot to pack her poker face.
The smile on Griffin’s face radiated as she began to speak. If any of her teachers were concerned bad news was coming their way, well, that notion quickly evaporated.
Soon enough, a short subdued celebration ensued. It stemmed from hard work. A lot of it, actually, over a number of years.
And just a few days later, Griffin and her teachers were able to share the good news with their students. The reaction then was not subdued. It was raucous, and it only made the smiles on the educators’ faces grow wider.
In the history of Gilbert Intermediate, it was a day that won’t soon be forgotten.
What was this good news, you’re surely asking at this point. Gilbert Intermediate is officially a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, one of only 25 in the state of Iowa. Across the state, 139 institutions are Leader in Me schools, which makes the Lighthouse schools the all-stars in a way. The best of the best.
“This is such a rewarding seal of approval on all of the investment that we’ve done,” Griffin, who has been the intermediate principal since 2013, said. “To see how this has evolved and how our staff and students have owned this … it isn’t one thing, it’s just what we do. It’s all hands on deck to do what’s best for every student, every day.”
Gilbert Superintendent Dr. Christine Trujillo was also in the audience when Griffin shared the good news with her staff. Like Griffin, Dr. Trujillo has witnessed first-hand the benefits of Leader in Me in the intermediate building, and she sees what it can bring to the entire district. Having a Lighthouse School in the district will only bring more awareness to the program.
“I am so proud of our students, teachers, and staff for achieving Lighthouse School status through the Leader in Me program,” Dr. Trujillo said. “This accomplishment truly exemplifies our commitment to leadership at every level. The Gilbert Intermediate School inspires excellence in its outstanding work to create a culture of high expectations in academics, leadership, and student voice. Principal Amy Griffin has worked tirelessly with the staff to create an environment for all to thrive in the classroom and throughout the community, and now that hard work is being recognized nationally.”
To understand how we got here, you first have to venture all the way back to the beginning. It was during the 2018-19 school year that Griffin first introduced her staff to Leader in Me through a book study and approximately 20 staff members took part. The first small pieces of implementation in the third grade occurred during the 2019-20 school year.
But it wasn’t until the 2020-21 school year that Gilbert Intermediate had its entire staff trained in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a popular book and education model by Stephen Covey, and officially became a Leader in Me school. The program has since been modified to 8 habits.
At its roots, Leader in Me is an evidence-based model that helps students and staff develop leadership skills. The program’s principles such as the 8 Habits of Highly Effective People are designed to improve academic achievement for college, careers, or any situation throughout a person’s life.
Core 1, 2, and 3 training occurred over the next few years. Now in year No. 5, Gilbert Intermediate reached a stage where Griffin felt the students and staff were ready to take that next step to become a Lighthouse School.
“In November of 2023, our staff Lighthouse (leadership) team said it felt like we were ready to be a Lighthouse School,” Griffin said.
That culminated with an application process of sorts, followed by an onsite visit from the Lighthouse School review team earlier this fall. The reviewers observed multiple classrooms, toured the school, interviews students and staff members on the leadership teams, and even interviewed a number of parents on how the school has implemented the Leader in Me program into its every day practices.
The results were crystal clear: Gilbert Intermediate had passed every test with flying colors, so to speak. It effectively teaches the leadership principles through direct lessons, integrated approaches, and staff modeling. And students are able to think critically about and apply those leadership principles.
Griffin says it’s not only because of the way her staff members teach the Leader in Me program and concepts, it’s also because they truly believe in its effectiveness and value.
“Before we saw changes in our students, I saw changes in our staff,” Griffin said. “The 8 habits is a way of life. We have to live it in order to teach it and expect it. Fortunately, the staff has seen the benefits of living it through their personal lives and professional challenges. The kids see us using the habits, and this has gotten us this end result.”
The end result is this statewide and national recognition. It didn’t happen overnight, not by a long shot. But that only makes it more rewarding. The teachers, staff members, administrators, and students have done the work. And the benefits will last them a lifetime.
