SANDPOINT — Some Lake Pend Oreille School District students will take the StrengthsFinder assessment when they begin school this fall. 

"StrengthsFinder is a 30-minute assessment that helps identify an individual's natural talents and their patterns for thinking, behaving, and feeling," said Sandpoint High School counselor Janay Moore. 

SHS 10th and 11th graders will take the assessment for use in student-led conferences and senior future readiness projects. 

"The goal is to really help students identify what they're naturally good at and then give them that language so that they can really define what their skills and talents are," said Moore. 

Instead of focusing on weaknesses, the assessment highlights an individual's skills and potential, encouraging students to use them at school, in relationships, during leadership opportunities and future careers, said Moore. 

"Research tells us that when students know who they are and they know what their strengths are, they're more successful," said Moore. "That's what this program does. It increases their self-awareness; it increases their confidence and their positive self-image." 

Moore added that when students know their strengths, it enhances the classroom environment and gives teachers valuable insights into how their students communicate and learn, allowing them to deepen classroom relationships and create valuable learning experiences. 

The multi-year program's rollout began last year, after the district staff took the StrengthsFinder assessment and finished an awareness training. Then, the program was piloted at Sagle Elementary School, Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School. 

"That was really exciting for students to actually get some feedback and sort of get some recommendations," said SHS counselor Jeralyn Mire. 

Next year, the program will expand fully, with a plan in place for new students. 

Amanda Balera, a Sandpoint Middle School teacher, said that after piloting the program in her classroom, the assessment helped her recognize each student's strengths, allowing her to design activities that aligned with and enhanced those strengths. 

"It was really helpful at the middle school level, I'm really excited to have it for the whole school," Balera said.

Moore said she is confident in the program and knows that it is effective.

“It's observable, it’s measurable and it’s sustainable," said Moore. "When students know who they are and know what their strengths are, we see engagement increasing and classroom environments being stronger."