Inverness Elementary students build skills, nurture relationships through new program

Teachers and administrators at Inverness Elementary School are excited about a new initiative they believe is helping build community, nurture positive relationships with and between students and, perhaps most importantly, boost students’ life and career skills.

The program is called Everyday GREAT, which stands for grit, respect, empathy, adventure and teamwork.

The school’s 600 students, from kindergarten through third grade, all take part in this fun, daily training. Not every student can be elected president or become a millionaire, but every student can learn “those everyday things that people can do great,” said Assistant Principal Jeff Norris. 

Students are learning about “looking adults in the eye and calling them by name,” Norris said. “Greeting people when they see them. We’ve seen a big impact. It is character building, but it’s also a way of life.”

“Everyday GREAT is an exciting way for students to build character traits that will help them throughout life,” said second-grade teacher Kristen Sanders. 

The program helps prepare students for careers, according to Norris, who said business people have given Shelby County schools “information about the skills they want graduating seniors to have, and so we’re trying to instill those innate soft skills in our students at a young age.”

Teachers are trained in the GREAT characteristics and share them with students through lessons and other activities.

“With adventure last month, we talked about a growth mindset with our teachers,” Norris said, who added that in the past, educators had tended to view intelligence or ability as “static,” which could limit a student’s sense of possibility.

The adventure concept is more expansive.

“Everyone’s growing all the time, so there’s no ceiling,” Norris said. “Everyone is taking risks, challenging themselves and trying new things.”

Students also learned about grit, the ability to stick with tough tasks.

“I overheard a student encouraging their partner that was having a hard time on their math work by saying, ‘You can do it, just have grit and keep trying,’” Sanders said.

Everyday GREAT helps build a positive classroom atmosphere, according to third-grade teacher Niki Burke. “We cheer for each other, show respect to one another, and we’re ready to try new adventures — even if that adventure seems intimidating,” she said.

One of the centerpieces of the effort is Inverness Crew, monthly meetings where each teacher gathers with a multi-age group of students to foster positive relationships. In the interest of sustaining long-term bonds, incoming students will stay with the same Crew and teacher for four years, Norris said.

Music teacher Kimberly Youngblood said Crew is helping to build relationships that might not otherwise happen.

“It gives me, as a teacher, an opportunity to make a deeper connection with some of my students, and for the students in my Crew in different grade levels to make connections with students that they normally do not get to interact with,” she said.

One of the greatest benefits of Everyday GREAT has been the way it nurtures the school community, according to Norris.

“It’s been the neatest thing to hear people say good morning and call each other by name just like a family member,” he said. “I think Inverness has always been known for a sense of community, but to see it in action this year has been great.”