James B. Eads Elementary School - Munster, IN

James B. Eads Elementary, in Munster, Indiana, is 30 miles southeast of Chicago. Our students are reminded daily that as good as we are, we can always get better. We strive to instill life skills that foster independence, engagement, kindness, and confidence. A key to our success is building relationships through hallway greetings, morning meetings, and responsive classroom practices. A strong commitment from our PTO, the Munster Education Foundation, and other community groups has helped to support innovative classroom practices. Our Community Reader program, established over 20 years ago, brings in local business people and first responders to read to classes, discuss life skills and share career education on a monthly basis.

Our Eads Leads leadership program has transformed our student body by providing peer-to-peer teaching and coaching of life skills. Eads Leaders begin each school day with daily announcements which highlight the life skill of the month. Eads Leaders teach monthly lessons to all kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms. The student leaders also plan the Great Kindness Challenge Week activities that have led us to be a kindness-certified school for a number of years. Our teacher leadership team ensures that we provide students with a safe and caring learning environment. Students are encouraged to be inclusive and to use their voices to support themselves and others. Our motto, Do the Right Thing and Treat People Right, will help us to continue to be a school of national distinction.