When students walk into Claremont Elementary on Thursday, they’ll learn how to be understated leaders from the staff at the school.
Principal Chris Gibbs said with the district experiencing budget cuts like every other, he wanted to do something to help his school improve.
“During tough times, leadership comes out,” Gibbs said. “With the budget, we’re facing cuts in staff and personnel. On Aug. 25, we’ll have 450 kids showing up regardless of what the state does. Our leadership will need to come out.”
To inspire the staff, Gibbs took the building leadership team to Appalachian State University to meet with football coach Jerry Moore, the winningest coach in Southern Conference history and who has been at ASU for 23 years.
“We wanted to visit someone who’s been a successful leader for several years,” Gibbs said.
The 12 members of the building leadership team got an inside tour of the football team’s facility, practice field, stadium and had lunch with the players, in addition to a 40-minute talk with Moore.
“He talked to us about himself,” said Kristi Fulbright, a first-grade teacher at Claremont and a member of the team. “He said he was not the brightest (in school). He’d rather be outside playing. But he was still able to recall some of his favorite teachers.”
Audrey Gantt is the secretary at Claremont Elementary and has been on the building leadership team for about 25 years. She said Moore’s talk to the staff also made an impression on her.
“To see the pride in the school and the sincerity that he had, you could see what a true, genuine person he is,” Gantt said. “He really has the children’s best interests at heart, and that’s how we should treat everyone here. I’m anxious to see how what we learned will be implemented here.”
Gantt said she did not go to college, so getting a behind-the-scenes tour was fun.
Gibbs said there are several things the team saw they plan to implement at Claremont Elementary. Where the ASU players had a photo of themselves above their lockers and where they went to high school, Claremont will have photos of the staff and information about them.
“We’ll also have the student leadership wall,” Gibbs said. “We’ll recognize them throughout the year.”
He said parents will also be recognized for the work they do.
Building leaders is Claremont Elementary’s theme this year, and Gibbs said he plans to have staff encourage students to take on more leadership roles.
“They’re all about instant gratification and wanting things immediately. They need to think long-term. We want them to see the end and keep it in mind,” Fulbright said. “We’re looking to build better character in our kids and instill a drive that makes them want it.”
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