Visitors to the Harry S Truman and Western Salisbury elementary schools cannot help but notice the signs hung on walls and bulletin boards throughout the schools.

The signs describe habits: "Be proactive; Begin with the end in mind; Put first things first; Think win-win; Seek first to understand – then to be understood; Synergize; and, Sharpen the saw."

Many will recognize the words as excerpted from one of the most well-known business books of all time, Stephen Covey's, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

Adapted to teach leadership and life skills to students from kindergarten to 12th grade, the program, called "The Leader in Me," has been in use at the Salisbury School District elementary schools for the past 15 months.

Partnership participants last week announced funding for the program will be extended through the current school year.

Several students from HST and WSE described in their own words the transformative power the program has had on their school life, their lives outside of school and in their home lives.

The enthusiasm of the HST student speakers was evident. They wore identical T-shirts asking on the front of the shirts, "Got leaders?", and on the back of the shirts, "The Leader in Me shines at HST."

WSE students wore shirts proclaiming, "Be a leader."

Anne Crossan, a client partner from the Franklin Covey Education Practice, said the program strives to develop responsible students who will be career-ready when they complete their schooling.

Glen Bressner, a managing partner of Originate Ventures, and a member of the board of directors of Philadelphia's St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, said the leadership program spills over into all areas of life for the children who are learning the Covey principles in their school curriculum.

"This program is teaching our young people to take control of their lives, and is encouraging healthy habits, healthy lifestyles and a generation of healthy learners," Bressner said.

Bonnie Coyle, M.D., medical director of the St. Luke's Health Network's Community Health Department said "improving leadership skills and literacy levels directly affects the health outcomes for children over the course of their lifetimes.

Most of us know that without a good education, individuals will not be able to get a good job, and potential earnings will be low and a cycle of poverty may be perpetuated," Coyle said.

"But few of us may think about education as a crucial path to health, but educational attainment is a strong predictor of both current and future health status," Coyle said.

HST Principal Barbara Samide agreed.

"The process has been easy to implement and has proved to be a remarkable change-agent for our students."

One youngster said the program has changed the way of thinking at the school.

"It used to be that we got 'infractions' when we did something wrong. Now every Monday we get to learn about the 'habit trackers' teachers and others notice in us."

The student observed recognition was much more effective and motivating than 'infractions.'

Samide said a student's comments recently summed up the positive aspects of the program in a few succinct words.

"Before the Leader in Me," Samide quoted the student, "we just did things – now we stop and think."

Al Douglass, of the Douglass Group, an Allentown wealth management firm, brought the Leader in Me to the Lehigh Valley and several businesses have provided financial assistance for supporting material, teacher coaching and other expenses. Businesses can donate to the program by going to the Internet site of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation at www.lehigvalleyfoundation.org/Lehigh-Valley-Leader-In-Me.