“Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up.” This inspirational message, which accompanies a student mural in this caring North Carolina school, epitomizes its approach to character. Students demonstrate strong academic achievement while consistently helping those in need, both inside and outside school. A student’s willingness to help another and to take pride in that individual’s accomplishment is not unusual at this Charlotte–Mecklenburg school, the third in its district to gain NSOC status (after Cornelius, 2005, and McKee Road, 2006). Story after story reveals bonding between buddies in this inclusion model school. A peer buddy is a coveted role sought by general education students, and students with special needs thrive in regular classes with the help and friendship extended by their peer buddies (a 2008 Promising Practice).

Read more about Beverly Woods in the 2009 NSOC book: “Working Together, Hand in Hand“

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