I’m the parent of a student in the Open Classroom Magnet program at Conejo Elementary and I attended the Vision Committee presentation that was given on Nov. 18.

It was an awesome, positive presentation that outlined the new direction that’s going to be implemented for this magnet program that was established at Conejo Elementary School 15 years ago.

The new emphasis is going to be on leadership, and the concept is based on Steven Covey’s children’s version of the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” which is called “The Leader in Me.”

Key skills that businesses and educators have identified as vital to the future of today’s students are developed within the “Leader In Me” process.

Some of these skills include leadership, communication, problem solving, responsibility, accountability, teamwork and creativity. Examples of the seven habits as applied to students are to be proactive, have a plan, work first then play, listen before you talk, think win-win, synergy––together is better and balance feels best.

In addition to specialized training for the open classroom teachers, all school staff at Conejo, including the traditional classroom teachers, will receive such training to encourage a cohesive student population.

There’s also the potential that an academy may be established to carry this teaching philosophy into the middle school level. Another goal is to partner with area preschools and middle schools that will encourage acceptance of the leadership concept.

From the Franklin Covey website: “‘The ‘Leader in Me’ process helps develop the essential life skills and characteristics students need in order to thrive in the 21st century.”

The world we live in is quite different than when I went to elementary school more than 30 years ago, and I feel the way we educate our children must adapt to those changes. I’m very excited about this new vision statement and feel that it’s a program that will be the envy of every elementary school in the district, be it a magnet, charter or traditional program.
Eric Alblinger
Thousand Oaks