The Leader in Me

[Anonymous]

Approved by the BOE!

If someone wants to find out more, here is the RFP No.



https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C2ZLX95869AD

"In addition, regarding the MCPS purchase of Leader in Me, funds have been budgeted for MCPS offices and schools to purchase Leader in Me for a total amount not to exceed $1,820,763.14 for Fiscal Year 2022. "

"To facilitate the purchase of a districtwide SEL Curriculum, MCPS released RFP No. 4926.1, Social-Emotional Learning Curricular and Instructional Materials, Elementary, Middle, and High Members of the Board of Education 3 May 25, 2021 schools on March 25, 2021, to solicit high-quality SEL curriculum. MCPS staff organized and conducted a thorough product selection process that included representatives from schools, the three employee associations, community organizations, students, and central services. "

[Anonymous]

Apparently the psychologist at QO likes it, because they testified about it at a recent BOE meeting:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CE9MZM5C9291/$file/Jeanne%20McCormack%20Written%20Testimony.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm concerned with the ties to the Mormon belief system, even if it claims to be "secular."

And our president is catholic!

Your bigotry is showing.

Bigotry against religious doctrines being taught in public schools? Yes.

[Anonymous]

Northwood HS is implementing it next year

[Anonymous]

We implemented it this year at my elementary school and it's awful. We had three days of training over the summer and the first two were about indoctrinating us to the seven habits. We spent the third day reviewing the lessons. Bottom line, they might have been great in 1995 but it's 2022 and not all of our students are white with bowl cuts. The lessons and habits don't make meaningful connections with the realities kids are facing these days. It doesn't address trauma, racism, etc. There's not much time to actually teach the lessons and when we do, our meaningful morning meetings get shortchanged to check the box that we're doing LIM.
I think there's a three-year contract with MCPS and LIM. Hoping that it's gone after that, and we can bring in a curriculum like Sanford Harmony.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We implemented it this year at my elementary school and it's awful. We had three days of training over the summer and the first two were about indoctrinating us to the seven habits. We spent the third day reviewing the lessons. Bottom line, they might have been great in 1995 but it's 2022 and not all of our students are white with bowl cuts. The lessons and habits don't make meaningful connections with the realities kids are facing these days. It doesn't address trauma, racism, etc. There's not much time to actually teach the lessons and when we do, our meaningful morning meetings get shortchanged to check the box that we're doing LIM.
I think there's a three-year contract with MCPS and LIM. Hoping that it's gone after that, and we can bring in a curriculum like Sanford Harmony.

My school was a Tier 1 school as well. Most of our teachers probably made it through the first 8 lessons and that's it. Lucky us, we get to have MORE training this summer! Last summer's training was awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got an email from my school saying they were implementing the Leader in Me program. Has anyone heard of this or had their schools do it? I am reading mixed reviews on it.

I think it's wonderful they provide these programs for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just got an email from my school saying they were implementing the Leader in Me program. Has anyone heard of this or had their schools do it? I am reading mixed reviews on it.

I think it's wonderful they provide these programs for kids.

Teacher here - kids DO need SEL learning but the Leader in Me curriculum is not it.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the comments. I'm disappointed that this is the direction my child's elementary school school is going in - but it sounds like all schools might be getting it? I really have loved what the school counselors have done thus far, some great lessons on age appropriate SEL type stuff. My DD is in K and has really absorbed what was taught.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just got an email from my school saying they were implementing the Leader in Me program. Has anyone heard of this or had their schools do it? I am reading mixed reviews on it.

I think it's wonderful they provide these programs for kids.

Teacher here - kids DO need SEL learning but the Leader in Me curriculum is not it.

Doesn't their literature state otherwise? It seems like there's just a group of people who will complain about any choice the county makes to help kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the comments. I'm disappointed that this is the direction my child's elementary school school is going in - but it sounds like all schools might be getting it? I really have loved what the school counselors have done thus far, some great lessons on age appropriate SEL type stuff. My DD is in K and has really absorbed what was taught.

It's a fine program. Don't buy the negative nellies' propaganda. They hate everything.

[Anonymous]

I love the posters who have not taught the curriculum are such strong proponents. Why aren't we listening to the classroom teachers who are actually the ones delivering the content? If they are with our kids seven hours a day and they don't think this is what our children need why do we constantly question their professional judgement? I cannot imagine doing my job under such scrutiny from people who have no experience in my field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the posters who have not taught the curriculum are such strong proponents. Why aren't we listening to the classroom teachers who are actually the ones delivering the content? If they are with our kids seven hours a day and they don't think this is what our children need why do we constantly question their professional judgement? I cannot imagine doing my job under such scrutiny from people who have no experience in my field.

I also love the posters who make all these false assumptions about things they don't actually know. I get that you don't like this program or pretty much anything they'd select, but don't assume everyone who teaches it agrees with you.

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about the actual curriculum so I'm not criticizing it, but the first I heard of it was last week when my 4th grader mentioned they were picking up the workbook for the first time in a while and trying to power through as much of it as they could before the end of the year. Seems his teacher isn't a big fan. I asked what he thought of it and he said "it's dumb" but couldn't give me a reason.

[Anonymous]

I have the training next week, but it will probobly just be pushed into our advisory period where all these initiatives go to die and students just play on their phones.