Be Proactive
Take responsibility for your choices and actions. Focus on what you can control.
Leader in Me at Meridian Elementary
Building confident, responsible, and empowered students who are ready to lead their own learning and make a positive difference in our school and community.
We Are Becoming Leaders!
During the 2026-2027 school year, Meridian Elementary School District is excited to begin implementing the Leader in Me program throughout our school.
Leader in Me is a whole-school approach that helps students develop leadership skills, personal responsibility, goal-setting habits, and the confidence to make positive choices. The program encourages students to recognize that leadership is not about having a title or being in charge. Leadership is about making good choices, taking responsibility, helping others, and believing in your own ability to grow.
At Meridian, we believe every student has the potential to be a leader.
Our goal is to create an environment where students are encouraged to discover their strengths, set goals, take ownership of their learning, and contribute positively to our school community.
Our goal is to create an environment where students are encouraged to discover their strengths, set goals, take ownership of their learning, and contribute positively to our school community.
What Is Leader in Me?
Leader in Me is based on the idea that students can develop leadership and life skills through everyday experiences at school, at home, and in the community.
Students will learn practical skills that can help them become more independent, responsible, organized, and confident. These skills will be connected to classroom learning, school activities, relationships, and everyday decision-making.
Throughout the year, students and staff will work together to create a common language around leadership. You may begin hearing students use new phrases and talk about the habits they are practicing in the classroom and at home.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
A central part of Leader in Me is the 7 Habits. These habits provide students with simple, memorable ways to think about responsibility, relationships, goals, and personal growth.
Begin With the End in Mind
Set goals and think about what you want to accomplish before you begin.
Put First Things First
Prioritize what is important and use your time wisely.
Think Win-Win
Look for solutions that are fair and beneficial to everyone involved.
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Listen carefully and try to understand others before sharing your own ideas.
Synergize
Work together and value the strengths and ideas that each person brings.
Sharpen the Saw
Take care of yourself and continue learning, growing, and improving.
What Will Leader in Me Look Like at Meridian?
As we introduce Leader in Me, families may notice leadership opportunities becoming part of everyday school life.
Student Leadership
Students will have opportunities to take on responsibilities, participate in leadership activities, and contribute ideas to our school.
Goal Setting
Students will learn how to set meaningful goals, track their progress, and celebrate their growth.
Personal Responsibility
Students will practice taking ownership of their choices, learning, responsibilities, and relationships.
Classroom Leadership
Classrooms may incorporate leadership roles and responsibilities that help students practice independence and teamwork.
School Culture
Staff and students will work together to build a positive school culture centered on respect, responsibility, and growth.
Celebrating Growth
We will recognize students for demonstrating leadership, positive choices, perseverance, and personal growth.
Leadership Is for Everyone
One of the most important ideas behind Leader in Me is that everyone can be a leader.
- Students can lead by making responsible choices.
- Students can lead by helping others.
- Students can lead by setting and working toward goals.
- Students can lead by solving problems.
- Students can lead by listening and communicating respectfully.
- Students can lead by taking responsibility for their learning.
- Students can lead by being a positive member of our school community.
How Families Can Help
Leader in Me becomes even more meaningful when students hear the same positive messages at school and at home.
Families can encourage leadership by:
- Encouraging children to take responsibility for their choices.
- Helping children set realistic goals.
- Allowing children to solve age-appropriate problems independently.
- Encouraging children to listen before responding.
- Recognizing effort, growth, and perseverance.
- Giving children opportunities to help and contribute at home.
- Using the 7 Habits language when appropriate.
Our Goal for the 2026-2027 School Year
This year is the beginning of an exciting journey for Meridian Elementary. Implementing Leader in Me will be a process of learning, practicing, reflecting, and growing together.
Our goal is to help students become more confident in who they are, more responsible for their choices, and more prepared to work with others and overcome challenges.
We are not just preparing students for the next grade level. We are
helping prepare them for life.
We look forward to partnering with our students, families, and community as we build a school culture where every child has the opportunity to discover their leadership potential.
