From staff reports
According to a news release from the Beaufort County School District (BCSD), Lady’s Island Elementary School has received two accomplishments that affirm its commitment to student-centered, whole-child education: recertification as an Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Certified School by the South Carolina Arts Commission and designation as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education. These honors reflect the school’s guiding vision of Leadership Through the Arts — a belief that creativity and leadership development go hand in hand to empower every student.
“With both Leader in Me Lighthouse status and ABC Institute recertification, Lady’s Island Elementary offers something truly unique: a school where leadership and the arts are woven into every aspect of learning,” Lady’s Island Elementary Principal Jason Osborne said in a news release. “Students don’t just absorb information — they lead, create, and grow into confident, capable individuals. In a time when families have more educational choices than ever, Lady’s Island Elementary proves that public schools can deliver an education that balances academics, creativity, and character — all in one place.”
Leader in Me Lighthouse certification
The Lighthouse Certification is a distinguished honor awarded to schools that “lead the way” by exhibiting outstanding and sustainable achievement in leadership development, academic performance, and a positive school culture. Through the Leader in Me framework, Lady’s Island Elementary teaches students critical life and leadership skills rooted in Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Students learn to set and track goals, solve problems collaboratively, and take initiative in their learning and behavior.
“Our Lighthouse distinction affirms that student voice and leadership are not extras in our school — they are essential,” said Osborne. “Our students aren’t just excelling academically — they’re growing into confident leaders ready for the future.”
ABC Institute recertification
In addition to its long-standing tradition of arts integration as the district’s original arts choice school since 2000, Lady’s Island Elementary has maintained its ABC Institute certification since 2010. As an ABC Certified School, Lady’s Island Elementary integrates music, visual arts, drama, and dance across content areas to enhance student engagement, creativity, and achievement.
“The arts have been part of who we are for over two decades,” said Osborne. “Our ABC recertification reflects a deep commitment to creativity as a core part of learning. It also affirms our belief — central to the Leader in Me — that every child has genius, and the arts help unleash it.”
The ABC Institute is a partnership of the South Carolina Arts Commission, the South Carolina Department of Education, and Winthrop University. Its mission is to ensure that every child in South Carolina has access to quality, standards-based arts education as part of the core curriculum.
