Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award
The Sanford N. McDonnell Award is named in honor of Sanford N. McDonnell, Chairman Emeritus of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation and CEP. This award is CEP’s highest honor.

CEP is Seeking Nominations for 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award in Character Education.

2011 Award Recipient

Sheldon Berman

Dr. Sheldon Berman

Dr. Sheldon Berman named for lifetime achievement in character education Washington, DC –The Character Education Partnership (CEP) has chosen Dr. Sheldon Berman to receive the 2011 Sanford N. McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education.

He will receive the award Oct. 20 in San Francisco at a special ceremony during the 2011 National Forum on Character Education, before an audience of 800 educators from across the country.

“Dr. Berman has dedicated his entire adult life to education and positive youth development,” said President & CEO Joe Mazzola.  “He has made a profound and positive difference at every post he’s held during his incredibly impressive career.”

Dr. Sheldon H. Berman is featured in the September issue of The School Administrator as one of 10 administrators who have shown courageous leadership. He says that the larger mission of schools “is to give young people the knowledge, skills and attitudes to sustain our democracy and help create a safer, more just and peaceful world.” He has focused on that mission throughout his 30-year career.

Dr. Berman assumed the superintendency of the Eugene Public Schools in Eugene, Oregon on July 1.  He previously served as the superintendent of the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville (KY) for four years and as the superintendent of the Hudson (MA) Public Schools for 14 years.

As leader of the Jefferson County Public Schools (a district of over 99,000 students), Dr. Berman directed the creation of a new student assignment plan that meets the standards of the U.S. Supreme Court, while sustaining the community’s and the district’s strong commitment to both diversity and quality. In addition to enhancing academic achievement and reducing dropout rates through numerous instructional and curricular initiatives, he launched a nationally recognized school climate and social and character development program entitled CARE for Kids across JCPS’s elementary and middle schools.  As superintendent in Hudson, he initiated innovations in civic education, social-emotional learning, service learning, mathematics and science reform, high school restructuring, teacher evaluation, and computer technology.

He is the author of Children’s Social Consciousness and Promising Practices in Teaching Social Responsibility, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on civic education, character education, service-learning, virtual education, and education reform. Dr. Berman serves on the Boards of Directors of the Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR), the Education Commission of the States’ National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC), and the Muhammad Ali Center.

Previous Sandy Award Winners

  • 2010  Linda McKay
  • 2009  Kathy Beland
  • 2008  Dr. Avis Glaze
  • 2007  Dr. Philip Vincent
  • 2006  Dr. Marvin Berkowitz
  • 2005  Dr. Hal Urban
  • 2004  Dr. Diane Berreth
  • 2003  Dr. Eric Schaps
  • 2002  Sir John Marks Templeton
  • 2001  Dr. Thomas Lickona
  • 2000  Dr. Kevin Ryan
  • 1999  Sanford N. McDonnell
  • 1998  Dr. Edward Wynne

The 2012 Sandy Award is sponsored by Learning for Life.