Dr. Gabriel Cardenas - Creating a Leadership Legacy

Dr. Cardenas has spent the past 13 years leading Janson Elementary. For eight of those years, the school enjoyed the status of being a Lighthouse school. And in 2022, they received the Legacy designation. The discussion opened with a look into what makes Janson different.

“I think the most important thing that really helped our school was having a very clear purpose and vision,” said Dr. Cardenas. He went on to explain that the staff is dedicated to changing lives and helping kids which is evident throughout the school.

“With Leader in Me, students learn to become self-aware, interdependent, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, do their homework, prioritize their time, be considerate of others, communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences, live a balanced life, and contribute to society. The model has been implemented in thousands of schools in more than 55 countries.”

The uniqueness of this model resonates throughout the school. Students of every age engage in age-appropriate learnings that are designed to help them learn how to be great citizens within society. “Forget the academics, I’m just talking about life principles and being a great model citizen. That’s one thing that everyone will experience when they walk on our campus,” Dr. Cardenas said.

Listen in to learn more about Janson’s journey to becoming a world-class educational environment that helps students, families, and community members thrive.