NASHUA — When Steven Covey wrote his famous self-help book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” he hardly could have envisioned that 20 years later his son would adapt it into an illustrated children's book. And now that the book is being adopted as part of a turnaround initiative at Ledge Street Elementary, teachers are praising its effect on students.

“I see our kids taking more ownership for themselves,” said Principal Janet Valeri, who introduced the book nearly three years ago.

Ledge Street is categorized as a Title I school, receiving federal funding because of the high incidence of poverty in the families of students, which Valeri said is about 80 percent of the school's students. After a term as the principal at Amherst Street Elementary, Valeri was brought to Ledge Street around the time its restructuring under the No Child Left Behind Act began.

After significant restructuring, the question arose of how to make the kids more accountable. “What could we do that was not punitive, that would teach them that I'm responsible for me, and that my success depends on me?” Valeri said.Leader in Me, now in its third year, was established around the Covey book.

The healthy habits are painted in the school's entrance: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win-win; seek first to understand, then to be understood; together is better; and balance feels best.Valeri said kids' lack of accountability began to change, as did their performance.

“Every year we notice different changes. And obviously it's not just with 'Oh our kids seem like they're being more accountable to themselves.' They really are because it's showing in every opportunity where we take a sample of data, it's showing that things are changing,” Valeri said.

She said parents have approached her about the impact of the seven habits, and volunteerism has increased amongst parents.

Five Ledge Street teachers recently presented on Leader in Me before Nashua's boards of education and aldermen.

Assistant Principal Tiffany Hyatt said student discipline has seen a sharp decline. If multiplied out from current levels, 108 behavior referrals will occur this year, down from 336 the year before.

Though attendance has increased just marginally, the number of chronically absent students has decreased. Two years ago, 57 students were absent more than 20 days — last year the number dropped to 16.

Fifth grade teacher Bob Lewis said it's a thrill to watch students' progress.“In the past, I've seen kids in the fifth grade being apathetic towards their education,” Lewis said. “I don't see that so much anymore because now that the kids have Leadership in Me. … They're much more engaged in what they're doing.”

Jennifer Martel, a kindergarten teacher at Ledge Street, said the most powerful part of the program is the “leadership notebook” used at all grade levels. Kids set personal, social and academic goals in the notebook, as well as track data in the areas of attendance, behavior, academics and progress towards goals.

Martel said it gives her kindergartners a visual which helps things come alive. “It gives them ownership of what their focus is on — what are their hopes and dreams for that year,” she said.She said it also provides a way to teach Common Core Standards in a kid-friendly language, and incorporate it into their leadership notebooks.

srios@newstote.com