First graders came together to create a shared vision for success, as young leaders in Maddie Pascarella’s class at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School wrote a mission statement.

The class mission statement is one of the tools in Leader in Me, an initiative the district is launching this year in partnership with FranklinCovey. Teachers took part in professional development sessions during Superintendent’s Conference Days at the end of August and are beginning to implement strategies into their classrooms.

Ms. Pascarella’s first graders crafted their mission statement following a class brainstorming session. Students discussed the attributes that make a leader, how they can work together, how they can make their classroom a positive place and what they can do to persevere when something is hard. The ideas contributed from each student led to one mission statement that they can look to for inspiration throughout the year.

As a class project, students placed their pictures on a drawing of a mountain with the mission statement at the top, symbolizing how they are all taking the journey together to rise as leaders.