Grant helps Isabella leaders program
Published 11:37 am Thursday, February 16, 2017
- Chilton Education Foundation (PEECh) grant committee member Chris Speaks presents a grant check to Isabella High School assistant principal Sue Ellen Gilliland, teacher Jillian Green and principal Ricky Porter with fellow committee member Jason Calhoun. (Contributed photo).
By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer
ISABELLA — Isabella High School teachers have received $1,500 from the Chilton Education Foundation for professional development and supplies to become a “Leader in Me” school.
Sue Ellen Gilliland, Assistant Principal, said the grant application was a team effort with counselor Jill Green, fourth-grade teacher Crishan Washington, third-grade teacher Kristi Mims joining her in developing the grant application.
The grant will fund two teachers, Gilliland and a parent to attend the Leader in Me Symposium later this month, and purchase 20 copies of the book “Leader in Me” by Stephen Covey.
“Resources for parents and students will be purchased, so that all stakeholders can begin to understand and use the common vocabulary associated with the process of developing leadership skills. The vocabulary and skills to be taught are based on Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, such as how to be proactive and to begin with the end in mind,” Gilliland said.
The program will be used in grades kindergarten through sixth.
“The Leader in Me philosophy helps students to develop those skills by providing the structure necessary to create a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader,” Gilliland said. “Our high school leadership team has developed the motto ‘Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.’ This grant will help to foster that growth beginning in kindergarten to be continued throughout the entire campus.”
As a part of the Leader in Me Symposium, the grant team will also visit a school where the program is already in use.
“Our team was elated to discover that we were selected to receive this grant. Isabella is such an amazing place to work because the faculty and staff really strive to do what is best for the students,” Gilliland said.” We are so thankful for the monetary support provided by the Chilton Education Foundation. We appreciate that our community is so willing to invest in the education and future success of our children as we continue to strive toward Growing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.”
