Three Rivers Hosts Area “Leaders in Me Students”
Students, teachers, and administrators from Eugene Fields Elementary in Poplar Bluff joined members of Three Rivers College’s S-MSTA chapter for a presentation on the “Leader in Me” program currently underway at Eugene Fields. The program helps instill the values of Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” in the school’s educational culture.
Three Rivers’ chapter of the Student Missouri State Teacher’s Association (S-MSTA) hosted 3rd and 4th grade students from Eugene Field Elementary in Poplar Bluff for a demonstration of the results of the school’s “Leader in Me” program.
“I was extremely impressed with the results of the Leader in Me program, and we were proud to provide this learning opportunity for our education students,” said Madawn Traxel, Coordinator of Teacher Education at Three Rivers, and head of the school’s S-MSTA chapter. “Hopefully they’ll be able to bring the principles of Leader in Me to their classrooms after they graduate.”
The Leader in Me program is based on Stephen Covey’s bestselling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and is geared towards teaching the seven habits to grade school children. The program aims to improve a school’s culture and learning environment by applying Covey’s principles to every level of the educational experience. Eugene Field Elementary is one of three schools in the state participating in Leader in Me and is in the second year of the program.
“We’ve already started reaping the dividends of this program,” said Jennifer Taylor, the Principal of Eugene Field, and one of the attendees of the demonstration. “We’ve seen noticeable drops in attendance and behavior issues, and an increase in test scores, from participating students.”
The Eugene Fields students who attended provided a brief presentation on the principles of the Leader in Me program, along with examples of how they’ve applied the principles in everyday life. Three Rivers’ S-MSTA students also had the opportunity to get first-hand accounts from teachers and administrators at Eugene Fields of how they’ve implemented the program in their classrooms.
Registration remains open for all Spring classes at Three Rivers College, including the college’s education programs. For more information on how to register, visit trcc.edu or call 573-840-9605. For more information on S-MSTA, contact Madawn Traxel at mtraxel@trcc.edu or 573-840-9001.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.