HJHS Pacesetters introduce leadership program to fifth graders

The Pacesetters, a leadership team of eighth graders at Hartselle Junior High School, introduced the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” to F.E. Burleson Elementary School’s fourth and fifth graders at an assembly program Wed., Jan. 23.

Hartselle Junior High School has been training its students in the “7 Habits” for four years. Three years ago it introduced the idea of leadership teams as described in “The Leader in Me” book by Sean Covey.

“We believe what we are doing at Hartselle Junior High School is not only making an academic difference, but we are giving our students the tools for an effective, productive and happy life,” said Shelia Reeves, one of a team of teachers, including Eliza Harris and Beth Rabb, who work with The Pacesetters.

Leadership teams take an active role in the school’s daily functions, including morning greeters, flag detail, marquee manager, newspaper delivery, hall helpers, peer tutors, peer mentors and other areas of responsibility.

Burleson School recently chose to include the “7 Habits” book in its regular curriculum and set aside classroom time on a regular basis to teach it at all grade levels.

A placard was used to draw attention to each one of the “7 Habits” and the students performed skits on stage to emphasize the life-changing importance of learning and implementing them.

The habits were listed as follows: (1) be proactive, (2) begin with the end in mind, (3) put first things first, (4) think win-win, (5) seek 1st to understand, (6) synergize and (7) sharpen the saw.

The program was concluded with a boys vs. girls game of “questions and answers” to measure how much of the information presented could be recalled.

The Pacesetters who took part in the “7 Habits” presentation were: Scout Alexander, Seth Ballew, Collin Blackwood, Reagan Bowling, Ally Burgess, Victoria Conar, Cody Evans, Olivia Godsey, Kyle Hamlett, Jack Hundley, Aliya Leslie, Zeth Malcolm, Julia Matthews, Lori Milligan, Morgan Sharp, Sloan Sittason, Madison Slaten, Anna Stinson, Jake Tiffin, Ryleigh Turner, Briana Wallace and Mary-Jane Wooley.

Athens State Regional In-Service Center is hosting Franklin Covey’s “Leader in Me” Symposium Feb. 2-3. Only four locations throughout the U.S. have been chosen to introduce this conference. It is entirely focused on bringing student leadership to the schools. The premise of Covey’s book, “The Leader in Me,” is every student has the ability to be a leader; they just need the opportunity.

On Feb. 2 from 10:30 to noon, the Pacesetters will be leading a presentation and tour of the “7 Habits” and the “Leader in Me” at Hartselle Junior High.