Student leadership is on display in many ways at Kathryn Winn Primary School, from goal-setting in classrooms to service projects that reach beyond the school walls. Recently, that culture of leadership was closely observed as the school completed a review for the highest recognition in the Leader in Me program.
Representatives from Franklin Covey visited the school as part of the evaluation process for the Legacy Award. The school has already earned Lighthouse certification, which schools renew every two years, and is now being considered for the global honor. Only 27 schools in the world have received the Legacy Award.
“We’re here evaluating the success we see and celebrate and honor them,” said Jan McCartan, Lighthouse recertification coordinator.
McCartan was joined by Muriel Summers, a global ambassador for the program whose own work helped shape the foundation of Leader in Me schools. The Leader in Me program was created by Summers and her team in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“At Kathryn Winn, we believe education is about more than academics - it’s about empowering students to discover their voice and their ability to lead,” said Principal Donna Monroe. “We intentionally create leadership opportunities for our kindergarten and first grade students in a supportive, risk-free environment where mistakes are welcomed as part of the learning journey.”
During their visit to Winn, Summers and McCartan toured classrooms, spoke with teachers and students, and reviewed leadership binders that students use to track academic progress and personal goals.
Kindergartener Malcolm Wood said leadership is something he tries to practice every day.
“I always try to be a leader,” he said. “Habit 5 is my favorite.” Habit 5, “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” encourages listening and understanding others before responding.
Students also set reading and math goals by grade level while tracking their own progress in their leadership binders. Two students explained their personal binders to the review team and they also highlighted schoolwide improvements in both math and reading.
Leadership opportunities are visible throughout the building, from student jobs that require an application process to service projects that help the community.
Some of those lessons stay with students long after they leave the school.
Several former students returned during the visit to share how the leadership skills they developed at Winn continue to influence them.
“I remember singing the Leader in Me song. It’s burnt into my head,” said Ryleigh Ashby, now a high school senior. She said the habit of being proactive still helps her today, such as when she had to write an essay on leadership for induction into the National Honor Society.
Zackary Kindoll, a freshman at the University of Louisville, said the leadership lessons helped him understand that being a leader is about more than giving directions.
“To me it’s not just giving orders,” he said. “It’s taking them and being able to listen very well. I’ve also found that being a leader you have to be creative. When people say stick to the book, they don’t actually know what to do. By sticking to the book you’re not being creative or thinking about things critically.”
Students also shared examples of how they have taken initiative to lead service projects.
Mila Hays, now a fourth grader at Cartmell Elementary, helped organize a schoolwide effort to make cards for residents at a nursing home while she was a student at Kathryn Winn. What began as a small project she and her older brother started at home soon grew to involve the entire school.
Ava Saggus, now a seventh grader, said the leadership skills she learned at Winn encouraged her to continue looking for ways to help others. She previously helped collect hats and gloves for elderly residents and is now working on a project to install a water dispenser in the middle school cafeteria.
Summers told the students their leadership reflects the original vision behind the program.
“These are tears of happiness,” she said to the small group gathered in Winn’s library. “You have taken what was envisioned years ago and brought it to your state and your community, and you’re doing great with it. You’re all incredible leaders. Behind you are folks who cheer you on every day.”
Students also offered advice to younger classmates who are just beginning their leadership journey.
“Don’t let anything stop you from achieving your dreams,” Mila said.
“If you believe, you can achieve it,” Ava added.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Ryleigh said.
“Trust yourself and believe,” Zackary said. “Never give up.”
The school expects to learn within a few weeks whether it will receive the Legacy Award. Regardless of the outcome, the leadership displayed by students throughout the building shows the lasting impact of a philosophy built on the idea that every child can be a leader.
“This special day showed just how capable our students are as they confidently gave tours of our school and led a schoolwide assembly on their own. Moments like this remind us of our mission: leadership has no age limit. Even the littlest leaders can lead,” Monroe added.
(More photos on the District Facebook page.)