Start with a small team of passionate folks who are committed to developing a high-quality, data-driven character program. Provide them with quality staff development and time to work on the goals and objectives they create and to involve the rest of the staff. – Mary Sue Hogan, Principal

Sappington Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri, has embraced change as a way of life. To an outsider, an on-going construction project in which the original school building was razed and an impressive addition erected may seem to be the obvious change, but, to an insider, a more important transformation has been taking place over the last five years. First grade teacher Kaye Rueschhoff, a nine-year Sappington veteran and former coordinator of its Character Education Team, notes that “school culture has changed.” She reflects, “Our approach to character education has evolved too, from a teacher-led focus to one that relies on student input.” As one who well knows the territory, Rueschhoff can give multiple examples of student leadership, such as students in the upper grades overseeing the daily school broadcast and her little ones suggesting household chores to support the school’s Adopt a Family drive.

Read more about Sappington in the 2008 NSOC book: “Soaring with Service at Sappington”

SIGNATURE PRACTICES

Featured Lesson Plan: Unique Monique:  Building a Community of Unique Individuals
The lesson encourages students to identify their unique talents, abilities, and strengths and thereby increase self-confidence

Sample Practice: Student Goal Worksheet
Students determine their character and academic goals and make plans to reach them.

Promising Practices:
Buddy Families
Families whose children are new to Sappington are warmly welcomed through the Sappington Buddy Family Project.

Olympic Day
Character lessons and P.E. skills are combined in a fun day of interactive activities.

A Day for Character
An entire student body participates in buddy projects and service projects during an early-release day.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mary Sue Hogan, Principal
Sappington Elementary School
11011 Gravois Road
St. Louis, MO 63126
Telephone: (314) 729-2400, ext. 6400
E-mail: mhogan@lindberghschools.ws
Web site: www.lindbergh.k12.mo.us