St. Martinville Primary to get 'leader' pilot program

PHOTO: Jason Huffman, the Director of Organizational and Impact Strategies for the United Way of Acadiana, explains the merits of “The Leader in Me” to the St. Martin Parish Council. (Karl Jeter)
A promising new program will be introduced this year at St. Martinville Primary school.
At the July 21 St. Martin Parish Council meeting, held at the parish School Board building in Breaux Bridge, Jason Huffman of the United Way of Acadiana spoke about the program.
Called “The Leader in Me,” the program at SMP will be supported by a matching grant.
The national organization FranklinCovey designed the system based on Stephen R. Covey’s best-selling 1989 self-help book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The program is reportedly producing positive results, particularly in reduced discipline and behavioral problems, but in academic outcomes as well.
FranklinCovey’s website describes The Leader in Me as a “whole-school transformation process” in which schools “teach 21st century leadership and life skills” and “create a culture of empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.”
Huffman said that the goal of the United Way is to bring as many schools in the parish into the program by 2020. He said that the cost to a school the size of SMP will be about $70,000 for the first five years, mostly in teacher and administration training during the first two of those years. The cost was described by Parish President Guy Cormier as a good value for the results he has seen, which he referred to as “excellent.”
He predicted that, when the results at SMP are known, other schools in the parish will want to implement the program.
In other matters, an ordinance was adopted to place limits on the proliferation of video draw poker devices in the parish. The ordinance was promoted by the video gaming industry. The aim is to limit competition for the limited number of players using the machines at the 15 truck stop casinos in the parish.
Also, District 7 Councilman Craig Gregory announced that he will not seek reelection to his seat on the council. Gregory said that he was proud of his service on the council and he felt that he has “Given all he has” to his constituents and the parish. His immediate plan is to return to school and finish his degree, but he hinted at the possibility that he might seek state office after that.