By Lara Maupin, NSOC Director
This time of year when teachers are so busy with final assessments, grades, and packing up for summer, it is important to take a little time to reflect on the school year that has just passed and plan for next year. Our 2011 National Schools of Character (NSOC) are doing just that – as they report on their outreach efforts during the past year and offer advice to those planning to enter the NSOC process next year. At the same time, our newest NSOC – the 24 schools and 1 district selected in 2012 – are receiving their feedback reports from CEP and beginning to plan their outreach efforts for next year.
What do these schools – our national leaders in character education – have to offer the rest of us about the importance of ongoing reflection and continuous growth? Here are two key lessons learned.
School Improvement is an Ongoing Process
Even NSOC have areas for growth. The 2012 NSOC just named are considering their feedback from CEP and ways they can continue to strive for excellence. Over the summer, they will reflect on this feedback and make plans for the upcoming year and beyond. True schools of character know that the work of school improvement through character education is never done. Even though they have reached a level of excellence, they continue to strive for more.
“After winning a national award, it is often easy to become complacent. We are trying our best to strive for continuous improvement,” said Danielle Vogelsang, principal of 2011 NSOC Bowles Elementary. Last year Bowles worked on increasing student voice and choice, an effort they were recognized for by a 2012 Promising Practice award.
Connie Browning, principal of 2011 NSOC Uthoff Valley Elementary said, “Winning the NSOC award is very prestigious, but it isn’t about getting an award. It is about doing the work that is important. . . We felt very honored to be selected and completing the application allowed us to look deeper into the work we are doing and try to decide what our next steps will be on the journey.” This past year Uthoff Valley added buddy families to their program and found new ways to encourage their students to be leaders.
Gather Data and Use It
The NSOC process certainly stresses the importance of evidence, data, and gathering input from stakeholders. NSOC repeatedly tell us of the value of this emphasis on data gathering. For those planning to enter the NSOC school improvement process next year by applying, our 2011 NSOC would certainly suggest you spend time now gathering data and feedback – and that you use CEP’s 11 Principles as a guide.
“Give yourself plenty of time and collect data!” suggests Sherry Anderson of Imagine South Lake, a 2011 NSOC. “When preparing staff to apply for this award, it is very important to keep data to show evidence to go along with the 11 Principles.”
“It is important for all staff and parents to be able to share their thoughts of how character has made the school a better environment for students to become smarter and caring citizens,” said Mary Hooks of Cotswold Elementary, a 2011 NSOC.
The NSOC stress that while it is important to collect data in order to submit a high-quality application, the truly important thing is not the application – it is the growth that occurs during the application process.
“The feedback, win or lose, is an invaluable tool in assessing and improving your character education program,” says Aaron Wilken, principle of Fox Middle School, a 2011 NSOC.
“Implement character education because it’s what’s best for children and the school community as opposed to applying for the sake of an award,” said Gina Siebe of Bayless Elementary, another 2011 NSOC.
Schools considering applying for SSOC/NSOC next year are encouraged to access the many resources for applicants available on CEP’s website, www.character.org, as well as information about a variety of assessment tools.
