Beaumont first in state to receive Lighthouse honor

Beaumont Elementary School in the Waterford School District is now on a level of its own as the first school in Michigan to be named a Covey Lighthouse School.

The Lighthouse program is a product of FranklinCovey, a leadership training, consulting and management company founded by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, the author of books including “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” and “The Leader in Me.”

FranklinCovey’s educational outreach seeks to implement Covey’s principles in schools around the world.

Beaumont was previously honored as a Covey “Leader in Me” school this past fall.

According to FranklinCovey, the “Leader in Me” process is built on Covey’s seven habits: being proactive; having a plan; putting work before play; thinking with a “win-win” mind set; listening before you talk; working together; and having balance.

In order to qualify, Beaumont implemented several measures, including having a group of school staff members hold regular meetings to implement the system into the school culture, whether through increased student leadership roles or through better use of leadership language in the school’s curriculum and instruction.

The program not only aims to encourage students, but to have students’ parents better understand “The Leader in Me,” and the “The 7 Habits” models and to become more involved in activities that support leadership.