Dressed in goggles, a hair net and a disposable gown, Principal Amy Ground climbed a ladder and sat on the edge of a dumpster behind North Warren Elementary School on Tuesday, steadying herself as two students stepped up to push her into the trash. 

After students chanted “push her,” Ground dipped into the garbage only to emerge a moment later with her head covered in spaghetti and then reached back down to slather on another handful for cheering students. Ground, who was keeping a promise to reward students for distinguished scores on state testing, encouraged students to keep giving 100 percent. 

“My kids have worked so hard to get to where they are,” Ground told the Daily News afterward, her face still smeared in places with spaghetti sauce. 

Ground said her school’s success has taken support from both parents and the Warren County Public Schools Board of Education. 

“It takes a total team and it takes being intentionally focused on each kid,” she said. “Every year they grow, that’s our goal. We will continue to motivate kids, whatever they want – within reason. I did tell them they could not shave my hair.”

North Warren’s success went beyond merely scoring distinguished, with the school also earning school of distinction status for scoring in the 95th percentile or higher on the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress test last month. 

In an earlier ceremony, students and teachers were also recognized for their progress in implementing leadership skills through the Leader In Me program, which is based on Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” 

Nolan Marx, a senior client partner with FranklinCovey, called two students down from the gymnasium’s bleachers to help unroll a banner honoring North Warren with Lighthouse School status. Marx said in a later interview that earning the top status requires schools to check off an evaluation rubric and clear a whole-day assessment conducted by the company’s review team. 

Several schools in the area have been honored with the status, which Marx said requires “commitment by all the stakeholders in the community.”

The Leader In Me Program prompts teachers to implement habits in their lessons, such as seeking first to understand and being proactive. 

Donna Smith, a preschool teacher at the school, said she starts by teaching students vocabulary and introducing them to the habits. It’s an approach she said helps students become responsible and not only helps them in school but become life learners. 

Meredith Bessette, a sixth-grader at North Warren, said the habits help her get school work done and “it helps me make friends as well.” Meredith also appreciated the encouragement to perform well on state testing. 

“I think it’s really cool that they encouraged us to do our best,” she said. “We did our best and we got distinguished.” 

— Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.