For Immediate Release

SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS

Ten National Schools of Character winners selected as models of effective school reform

May 18, 2009 . . . Washington, D.C. – The Character Education Partnership (CEP) has named seven public schools, one charter school, one private school, and one school district as 2009 National Schools of Character.

The winning schools demonstrate that school transformation is possible through low-cost, high-quality character education initiatives. They have closed the achievement gap and raised academic expectations for all students, built strong relationships and partnerships between parents, teachers, and students, and given their students opportunities to serve their communities.

“All of the winners are wonderful exemplars of how comprehensive character education can truly transform school culture and climate, which in turn allows students and teachers to flourish,” said CEP Executive Director Joe Mazzola.

The diverse group of winners includes one school each from Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin and two schools and one district from Missouri. Missouri is a model for how regional excellence in character education can be attained, according to Marvin Berkowitz, professor of character education at University of Missouri–St. Louis.
 
“We are saturating schools with professional development, leadership training, and best practices,” Berkowitz said. “We have now been at it long enough that our schools are hitting the mark after years of excellent practice.”

Each winner will receive an award and grant at CEP’s 16th National Forum on Character Education, Citizens of Character – the Foundation of Democracy, to be held October 29–31, 2009, outside of Washington, DC. Winners serve as mentors and models for other schools and districts seeking to improve their character education efforts.

“CEP set a new record this year for the number of schools applying for our national recognition. The overall quality of applicants continues to get stronger too,” said CEP Executive Director, Joe Mazzola. “Of course, this makes the competition extremely tough.”

The NSOC application process requires extensive reporting, documentation, and assessment of each school or district’s climate, academics, and programs to develop civic, moral, and social-emotional competencies. CEP’s Blue Ribbon Panel, consisting of experts in the field of character education, considered the written applications and site visit reports of 27 finalists to determine the 10 winners.

2009 National Schools of Character award winners

Alta S. Leary Elementary School, Warminster, Pennsylvania (Public/Grades K-5)
Students attending this 50-year-old school hidden in a picturesque area of Bucks County, Pennsylvania demonstrate the philosophy and practice of global citizenry each day:  respect for all, ability to settle disagreements amicably, and helping those in need. The “common goal of goodness” that envelops the school is the result of 15 years of conscious character-building begun in response to escalating discipline problems. While the school has undergone demographic changes (23% on free or reduced lunch; 38% receiving Title I services in reading and math), its academic achievement continues to soar.
Contact: Dr. Donna Dunar, Principal, (215) 441-6066, Dunado@centennialsd.org

Bayless Junior High School, St. Louis County, Missouri (Public/Grades 7-8)
A primarily blue collar community, the Bayless area has become the epicenter for many St. Louis immigrant families. Bosnian and Vietnamese comprise the largest groups. The influx of students and families with limited English proficiency has presented real challenges for the district. BJHS has met those challenges with programs that build an appreciation for their diversity and that address the language learning needs of all students. The school’s mission is growing “responsible citizens for a diverse society” and by all measures they seem to be succeeding.
Contact: Mr. Ronald Tucker, Principal, (314) 256-8690, rtucker@bayless.k12.mo.us

Beverly Woods Elementary School, Charlotte, North Carolina (Public/Grades K-5)
Students at Beverly Woods are taught to care for others while developing their academic potential. All students are given diversity training, beginning in Kindergarten, to assist them in understanding and accepting students with special needs. Beverly Woods uses an inclusion model and special needs students can be found in most classrooms, paired with a Peer Buddy. Teachers meet the needs of their diverse students by building caring relationships and differentiating instruction. A high priority at this school, service learning projects connected to the curriculum focus on hunger and homelessness.
Contact: Ms. Caroline Horne, Principal, (980) 343-3627, caroline.horne@cms.k12.nc.us

The Blake School, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Private/PreK-12)
Founded in 1900, The Blake School is an independent, coeducational day school located on three campuses in the Minneapolis metropolitan area. The school provides students with an academically challenging education in a diverse and supportive community committed to a common set of values. Well-known for a strong service-learning program with an international focus, Blake stresses community involvement and multiculturalism. Service learning at Blake provides students a better understanding of themselves, the world in which they live, and the opportunity and responsibility they have to improve both. 
Contact: Ms. Nan Peterson, Director of Service Learning, (952) 988-3812, npeterson@blakeschool.org

Colonel John Robinson Elementary School, Westford, Massachusetts (Public/Grades K-2)
Located in a suburban community northwest of Boston, Robinson features an open space environment in which two to three classes operate within a large room suite. This open classroom model, more popular in 1970 when the school was built, is unique today. The school’s character education program began a dozen years ago when teachers, frustrated that they were losing time to discipline issues, drafted a program they called “Peace-It-Together (PIT).” The program that has evolved has surrounded its young students with an environment of trust and respect that has allowed them to grow and learn not just the basics but how to resolve conflicts. 
Contact: Mrs. Denise Arvidson, Principal, (978) 692-5586, darvidson@westfordk12.us

Fox C-6 School District, Arnold, Missouri (Public/Grades K-12)
The Fox C-6 School district is the largest district located in Jefferson County, Missouri, south of St. Louis. It serves a mix of suburban and rural communities through its award-winning eleven elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. District leadership encourages all Fox schools to advance strategies to develop students’ character. As a result, students in the district widely report feeling safe and respected. Parents and teachers report feeling a part of the Fox school community because of the positive school climate they experience. Low staff turnover further validates this strong sense of community.
Contact: Ms. Kristen Pelster, Principal, (636) 282-1459, ext. 1703, pelster@fox.k12.mo.us

Greenfield Elementary School, Beverly Hills, Michigan (Public/Grades PreK-5)
At Greenfield, adults and children work and play together as a family of learners according to “The Greenfield Way.” This motto provides a common language and holds a diverse school community together. The school offers students service opportunities to live and learn their values by working in the school store, office, or playground habitat or helping with food drives, recycling, safety patrol, and mentoring. Student autonomy and belonging are also emphasized in class meetings and buddy activities. Greenfield parents, teachers, and students have come together to create a learning community that integrates character and academics.
Contact: Mrs. Claudia St. Amour, CE Ctte. Co-chair, (248) 203-3217, cs03bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us

Long Elementary School, Crestwood, Missouri (Public/Grades K-5)
In a region and district known for strong character education programs, Long stands out as a leader. The school is held in high esteem not only by parents but also by the local community and surrounding school districts. Long teachers frequently model best practices in presentations to other schools. Through modeling, effective lesson planning, and consistency of purpose, all staff members at Long have integrated character into every corner of the school. Students learn conflict resolution and empathy through the use of “I Care Language.” Through a school-wide focus on service learning, students learn to identify needs and develop projects to meet those needs. 
Contact: Mr. Brian McKenney, principal, (314) 729-2450, bmckenney@lindberghschools.ws,

Milwaukee College Prep School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Public Charter School/PreK–8)
The moment one enters Milwaukee College Prep it is obvious that academic achievement and character development are the hallmarks of this unique public charter school. As students enter the doors each day, they transition from a troubled inner-city neighborhood setting into a warm, orderly state-of-the-art school environment created to support urban children and their families. Through strong partnerships with parents, differentiated instruction and a college-bound curriculum, high expectations, and an educational philosophy of love and hard work, school staff help their students become successful candidates for top-notch schools.
Contact: Ms. Maggie Broeren, Development Dir., (414) 445-8020, mbroeren@milwcollegeprep.com

Westwood Elementary School, Friendswood, Texas (Public/Grades Pre K-3)
The Westwood staff and the community have come together to create an extraordinary elementary school large in its size for the age of the children, and yet very small in its feel. The school is also large in its impact. The strength of the Westwood character education initiative is so great that the past graduates have made a tremendous impact on their elementary, junior high, and high schools, changing the way things are done and bringing their character education with them. Young Westwood students and their counselor recently traveled to Washington to lobby Congress on behalf of service projects close to their hearts.
Contact: Mrs. Barbara Gruener, Counselor, (281) 482-3341, bgruener@fisdk12.net

NSOC awards program
Each year since 1998, the NSOC awards program has recognized approximately ten K–12 schools and districts that provide exemplary comprehensive character education programs that consistently yield positive results in student behavior, citizenship, school climate, and academic performance. The national awards program is sponsored and administered by the Character Education Partnership and made possible through the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation and Lockheed Martin.

Character Education Partnership
The Character Education Partnership, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to helping schools develop people of good character for a just and compassionate society. CEP is the nation’s leading advocate for quality character education initiatives. To learn more about CEP and the National and State Schools of Character, visit www.character.org.