Here’s a community where commitment to character permeates everything they do. Four schools in the district have been recognized with National Schools of Character awards, and the school district was named a National District of Character. The mayor, city council, and Chamber of Commerce have also adopted the same core values, or expected behaviors, as the school district has. It truly makes for a community of character.

Puppione writes:

The City of Pleasanton, Pleasanton Unified School District and the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce actively participate in a Community of Character program that encourages people to work together to ensure that individuals and families are strong, homes and streets are safe, education is effective, businesses are productive, and citizens care for one another.

Following the principles CEP advocates and serving as the leading resource for the Pleasanton Program people and organizations in Pleasanton are integrating character education into their schools and communities.

Highlights of the Program include:

• Autonomy/school plans/committees
• District Committee
• Shared Vision
• Embedded in the curriculum
• School Newsletters
• School Brochure
• Shared Lessons
• Evaluations
• City Government Participation
• Chamber of Commerce Participation

The effort has permeated the entire community. A list of the expected behaviors hangs in city hall as well as in every school in the district. 

The mayor begins each town council meeting by reminding all those present that they are to use the Expected Behaviors in their interactions with one another. Businesses pledge to support the Expected Behaviors and display their signed pledge on their premises. Clergy preach the about the Expected Behaviors at worship. Every month, the Rotary Club recognizes a teacher who exemplifies the behaviors. A Character Education Coalition gives visibility to the program and honors an individual who has exemplified a certain expected behavior.

A recognizable unifying logo banners displayed at several key locations (including schools, businesses, and City facilities) promoting each character trait.

Register now for the conference and to experience this wonderful site visit to see effective character in action.

My sister couldn’t stop talking about how friendly everyone was. “Iowa has to be the most hospitable state ever,” she said. At every stop, people from all walks of life offered their homes to the bicyclists (and there were a lot of them. One count on the first day reported 20,000). The bikers camped out in their yards, slept in their basements, and shared their family rooms.

My sister also noticed a decorating trend in Iowa. “Everyone decorated their houses with words and sayings,” she said, “sometimes just plates on the wall that read ‘Love,’ ‘Family,’ ‘Friendship;’ sometimes framed poems or quotes.” Two she particularly remembered:

“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”
“Do take care of the little things or they may become big things.”

I couldn’t help but think there was a connection. Decorating their homes with the core values they believed in surely helped reinforce their hospitable behavior. CEP’s framework, the Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education, begins with a focus on core ethical and performance values. When schools decide what they value most and work to achieve those values, good things happen.

If you want to learn more about CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education, there will be lots of opportunities at our national conference, the 17th National Forum on Character Education in October. Come experience the many success stories that have sprung from embracing character education.
From our all-day Foundational Training on Oct. 27, to an in-depth workshop “Aiming for Virtue” to myriad breakout sessions, you’ll find lots of ways to learn more and to develop your own success story.