Walking through the completed hallways of our new South Adams school, I see many happy teachers preparing their brand new classrooms with an air of excitement.

As I watch the new school brick being added each day from my office window, I'm amazed and inspired by the parallels of our new 7 Habits program and the similarities with our design build project.

Franklin Covey's Habit #3 is "Put First Things First." It's about priorities and choosing to spend time and energy on the important things in our lives. Even if you haven't studied Covey's "Time Matrix", we've all lived it. Time and energy is spent every day on the urgent, the non-urgent, the important and the non-important things. Big rocks represent the important stuff and should be a priority.

In 2001, discussions began in earnest regarding the condition of our existing elementary and middle schools at South Adams. I decided then to run for school board. Not only was it my desire to take part in ensuring a quality education for all students at South Adams, I felt it was very important to get a new school built as the existing structures were old and in extreme disrepair.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead said that and today it is one of the most popular quotes inspiring team success. I'd like to share a firsthand experience.

This summer Jeff Rich, our elementary school principal, and I became certified facilitators for the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Signature Program, including 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. The teen program is dedicated to all 7th thru 12th grade students and is a year-long commitment to develop and encourage decision-making skills and goal setting, utilizing the Choice is Yours workbook and our teachers as facilitators.

I believe a school building is a tool for learning. When I came to South Adams in July of 2006, building a new PK-8th grade school was part of the assignment. I have been involved in building projects over the years but not closing old buildings and constructing new ones. While creating something new was exciting, the size of the project was humbling.