In the Stanley-Boyd Area School District, we believe education is about more than academics. Preparing students for success means helping them grow not just in knowledge, but also in character, leadership, and responsibility. That’s why our district has made a long-term commitment to character education across all grade levels.
At the elementary and middle schools, students participate in Leader in Me, a leadership and character development program based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. The program was first introduced in 2020 and has since become an important part of daily learning and school culture.
Leader in Me empowers students to see themselves as leaders, regardless of their age or background. Through interactive lessons and schoolwide activities, students learn habits such as “Be Proactive,” “Begin with the End in Mind,” and “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.” These lessons encourage responsibility, goal setting, teamwork, and empathy, which help build both personal confidence and strong school communities.
What makes the program especially powerful is how it extends beyond the classroom. Students lead assemblies, participate in organizations, take part in service projects, set personal goals, and take ownership of their learning. Many parents have shared that these habits are even showing up at home, with children using the same language of respect and responsibility with siblings and family members.
At the high school level, we began character education in 2017. Although we have since developed our own program, the same life skills and leadership focus continue through monthly lessons. This, along with an emphasis on service, is helping our students make a difference in our school and community.
Together, these programs create a unified K–12 approach that builds consistency and shared values. Younger students begin learning the foundational habits, while older students expand those lessons into leadership and life skills. By the time they graduate, Stanley-Boyd students have had years of intentional practice in goal setting, communication, and problem solving. These are the same skills that employers and colleges identify as most essential for success.
As a district, we are proud of our students’ academic performance, but we are equally proud of the kind of people they are becoming. Character education does not just prepare students for tests; it prepares them for life.
The results can be seen every day in our classrooms.