Heritage’s ‘Leader in Me’ helps MARF

For their Leader in Me project at Heritage elementary, Liza Hughey, from left, Adam Seldon, Ethan Brewer and Aiden Heisey and classmates in Jessica Dean’s fourth-grade class collected shoes to help Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF). CLICK PHOTO DESIGNS BY SARAH BREWER

MADISON – Homeless pets will be one group to benefit in the long haul from the efforts of students at Heritage Elementary School who are enacting “Leader in Me” principles.

Based on “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey, Leader in Me helps to produce higher academic levels, fewer discipline problems and increased engagement among teachers and parents. The program strengthens students’ self-confidence and skills to thrive in the 21st-century economy.

In Jessica Dean’s fourth-grade class at Heritage, students decided on an outreach effort for Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF). Currently, MARF is collecting shoes that they will sell to a company that cleans them up to distribute to third-world countries.

Dean’s fourth-graders decided on a goal of 30 pairs of shoes, which they accomplished in only a couple of days. “Then, they raised their goal to 50. I have a feeling they will collect even more than that,” parent Sarah Brewer said.

“The new Leader in Me Program allowed the students to find a class project that is giving back to the community,” Brewer said.

The Leader in Me program enacts a model for whole-school transformation that acts like a computer’s operating system. Leader in Me improves performance of all other programs.

Nationwide, educators have seen Leader in Me lead to successful students, schools and communities. Its premise uses a contagious spread of positive behavior to decrease scenarios with problematic behavior.

“The Leader in Me” philosophy encourages students to adopt service projects. Like the Heritage students’ work with MARF, a classroom or group of students can actively identify a need on campus or in the community, take action and establish an attainable goal to reach and even exceed.

MARF is asking residents to donate shoes through Sept. 15. Drop-off locations are West Madison Veterinary Hospital, 8504 U.S. 72 W.; Madison Animal Care Hospital, 4044 Sullivan St., Madison City Hall, 100 Hughes Road; Petco, 8213 U.S. 72 W., Suite C; and West End Grill, 6610 Old Madison Pike.

For more information about MARF, call Miki Bennett at 256-658-8607, email info@madisonarf.org or visit madisonarf.org.