Snyder Independent School District (SISD) is expanding FranklinCovey’s Leader in Me program to every campus beginning in the 2025–2026 school year. This expansion, made possible through grant funding, reflects the district’s commitment to strengthening school culture and ensuring all students feel safe, valued, and empowered.
The decision to implement the program district-wide was informed by feedback from the school community and an identified need to create a more unified and positive environment across campuses. Students, staff, and families consistently expressed the importance of cultivating a culture built on kindness, teamwork, leadership, character development, respect, and accountability.
Leader in Me was selected as a key component of this work because of its proven ability to help schools build consistent expectations, empower students, and promote a strong sense of belonging. While it is just one part of Snyder ISD’s overall efforts to strengthen school climate, it provides a meaningful roadmap to guide our work moving forward. District leaders hope that by establishing a shared leadership language across campuses, this initiative will support long-term cultural growth and help address challenges that have impacted the learning environment.
The program has been a part of Snyder Primary School for more than a decade and is well-known to many in our community. There, students learn to lead themselves, work through conflict respectfully, and take pride in their school environment. The positive impact and strong support from staff, families, and students reinforced the decision to expand the program across all grade levels, with thoughtful, age-appropriate adaptations for each campus.
“Leader in Me gives us a shared leadership language and complements the strategic initiatives already underway across the district,” said Superintendent Bob Rauch. “We’ve listened to our community, and we recognize there’s still work to do in some areas. That’s why we’re making a deliberate investment in our students and staff. This program helps students take ownership of their actions, treat others with respect, and contribute to a positive, inclusive school culture. It supports our goal of creating schools where leadership and learning go hand in hand.”
Leader in Me is a whole-child, leadership-based framework developed by FranklinCovey Education. It incorporates the principles of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to help students build life skills such as personal responsibility, goal setting, collaboration, and empathy. Used in more than 5,000 schools worldwide, the model has been shown to improve student confidence, reduce behavior issues, and strengthen school communities.
The districtwide rollout is already in progress. Staff from every SISD campus are completing training and developing campus-specific plans to implement the program this fall. Beginning in August, students will begin learning and applying the 7 Habits, engaging in leadership roles, and participating in a culture that emphasizes both academic and personal growth. Family events throughout the year will help reinforce the language and habits at home, ensuring strong partnerships between school and community.
Snyder ISD will monitor implementation and evaluate progress throughout the school year using climate surveys, attendance trends, and behavior data. As students and campuses demonstrate growth in leadership and culture, the district will celebrate milestones and continue building on the momentum this program helps create.
About Leader in Me
Leader in Me is a school transformation model developed by FranklinCovey Education. Based on
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People®
, the program equips students with leadership and life skills that support academic, social, and emotional growth. It promotes a high-trust, inclusive school culture by helping each student recognize their strengths and take an active role in their learning and school community.