Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School has become one of about 800 schools worldwide to hold the Leader in Me Lighthouse School certification, according to FranklinCovey Education, which administers the program. The national designation recognizes schools where student leadership development is embedded in daily instruction, not bolted on as an afterthought.
Fulton County Schools announced the recognition Thursday, July 23. Principal Tiambi Walker said the certification followed three years of building shared leadership practices among staff, students, and families.
What students do differently
At Hilliard Elementary, students keep leadership portfolios and goal-setting notebooks, track their own academic data, and serve as school ambassadors. Programs like STEM GEMS and Panther Power Leaders give students visible roles beyond the classroom. Students also take the lead during family events such as Literacy Night and Curriculum Night.
A central tool was the school's use of Wildly Important Goals, or WIGs. Students, teachers, and teams set, tracked, and reflected on targets tied to academics, behavior, and leadership development.
The certification process itself is rigorous. Schools typically apply three to five years after beginning the Leader in Me program and must demonstrate measurable outcomes in three areas: teaching leadership principles, creating a leadership culture, and aligning academic systems. Certification lasts two years before schools must recertify through a self-assessment and, every four years, an on-site visit.
Recognition amid financial strain
The honor arrives as Fulton County Schools, the same district that serves Sandy Springs families at North Springs High School and Riverwood International Charter School, navigates a $56.9 million budget deficit for 2026-27. The Board of Education adopted a $2.3 billion budget on June 21 that includes a district-wide furlough day, shortening the instructional calendar by one day to save approximately $4.5 million.
According to the district, Hilliard Elementary will now serve as a mentor and model for other campuses across Georgia and nationally that want to build similar leadership cultures.
"We view this role as both a privilege and a responsibility," Walker said in the district's announcement, adding that the school plans to share best practices with other campuses pursuing student-centered leadership.
