CREATE HIGH-TRUST CULTURES

Build a culture where students and staff thrive.

In a Leader in Me school, every detail, from wall decorations to classroom activities, echoes the value and potential of both students and staff. By fostering a culture of respect and high trust, we enhance relationships and results for everyone involved—from administrators and staff to students and caregivers.

Cultivating the culture of your school matters.

For many students, attending school can feel psychologically and physically unsafe. They may encounter coercive discipline practices, bullying, and other adverse experiences that make them feel that school is an uncaring place. Research demonstrates that the lack of a sense of safety and belonging at school can have a detrimental impact on student achievement and interfere with students reaching their full potential. In contrast, a positive and supportive learning environment has been shown to boost academic outcomes leading to improved grades, test scores, and student engagement.

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT:

Battery Creek High School

See how Battery Creek reinvented itself, increased graduation rates from 76.6% to 86%, and created a culture of student leadership and empowerment that transformed the school and their community.

Culture Research

Leader in Me understands the importance of a supportive workplace and creates conditions for faculty and staff to strengthen their voice and feel the ways in which their actions positively impact students.

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In reflecting on how the Leader in Me program has impacted the school, one teacher said that her principal transformed into a leader "that believed in empowerment and empowered us to try different things, really showing us that he valued us. He really started working to show appreciation. Our morale changed a lot; our culture changed a lot." 29

In this study, 67 percent of the principals surveyed said they felt there was "a positive impact on teacher satisfaction and school safety." 5

"Many teachers reported that teaching is easier and more enjoyable and they are more effective after implementing the Leader in Me." 3

"The principals at each of the ten schools commented on how their whole school climate had been positively improved since implementing the Leader in Me process. Several mentioned that they had conducted a quality school survey which indicated that the teacher satisfaction had increased significantly." 2

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Participants in this study felt that the Leader in Me program "made a significant positive difference in the self-regulation of the students, which led to a better school climate and academic achievement." 12

After implementing Leader in Me, one school leader reported that "our students think about others more than themselves, they are kinder to each other, they try to help the teachers, they take ownership and know there are consequences for their actions." 29

In a survey of teachers at Leader in Me schools, 55% reported that they "feel students are able to work out conflicts more often on their own" and about 62% "believe that students are getting along better." 31

"Participants from all four schools robustly asserted that the Leader in Me creates a more nurturing and positive school climate" and that students report that they felt more welcomed and happier at their LiM school because "people care about each other." 3

"89% of teachers reported that as a result of being a Leader in Me school, the school is safe and provides a welcome environment." 23

In explaining the capability of the Leader in Me program, participants said that it "facilitates high-trust school culture and lays the foundation for sustained communication and understanding of differences." 17

In the focus group interview portion of this study, it was noted that "themes of mutual respect, student empowerment, feeling valued, and positive learning environment were strongly evident" in Leader in Me schools. 25

Students in the Leader in Me program "were making friends from a different culture and showing an increased sense of confidence." 2

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"Follow-up 9th grade data show that students who attended a non-LiM middle school were roughly twice as likely to be chronically tardy compared to students who had attended a Leader in Me middle school for three years." 10

"There was a statistically significant difference in attendance for students that had at least two years of instruction in the Leader in Me." 19

"The Leader in Me is associated with increased average attendance. LiM schools have higher attendance after implementing LiM and attendance increases as length of time in LiM increases." 3

"The data illustrate that Leader in Me schools showed an average of 27% (year 1) and 35% (year 2) fewer students with excessive absences in comparison to the school districts in the study." 20

"Schools that eventually dropped the LiM program were found to have lower than expected attendance rates, suggesting possibly negative impacts for schools that do not stick with the intervention." 33

What Educators Are Saying

“We talk about what students experience at home and in the community; they bring that to school. Leader in Me for us has been something that we had at school that they can take home. We’re finding that students are taking the language of The 7 Habits® to their parents, and to their churches, and to their organizations and teams, and that is creating a change that I was not anticipating.”

— Dr. Curtis L. Jones Jr., 2019 National Superintendent of the Year, Bibb County School District

“My story is over the last 9 years, watching the magic happen when you make sure that every kid in your building knows that they have genius in themselves and you see what that genius multiplies into, everywhere you look.”

— Beth Mohler, Principal, Rutledge Elementary

Explore Our Evidence-Based Solutions

We offer a range of solutions designed to meet the unique needs of your school and district.

Early Learning Educators

Leader in Me’s complete early learning solution pairs research-backed student curriculum with strong professional learning to equip staff with the skills to build leadership competencies in their youngest learners.

Elementary Educators

Leader in Me is a evidence-based model focused on leadership, culture, and academics that equips students, educators, and families with the leadership and life skills needed to thrive in a dynamic world.

Secondary Educators

Students and staff work together to develop essential leadership competencies for postsecondary readiness, increase engagement and school belonging, create high-trust school cultures through authentic relationships, and achieve breakthrough results on their important goals.

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