SUCCESS STORIES

Francis Howell Middle School

In 2003 I began a remarkable journey with my school and staff. In the beginning, fear was our greatest obstacle: teachers' fear that it would be another thing to do, parents' fear that academics would suffer, and my own fear that it just might not work.

My first challenge was to convince the staff to take the character education journey. Like anything new, it was a struggle in the beginning, but as teachers became comfortable with their Character Connection Class and students became comfortable with one another, it blossomed.

Francis Howell Middle School has been recognized as a Missouri School of Character (2008 and 2011), a Missouri Gold Star School (2009), a National Blue Ribbon School (2009), and a National School of Character (2011). Click Here for the Full Story.

MARK TWAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mark Twain Elementary is a small neighborhood school with approximately 175 students from grades Kindergarten to Fifth (ages 5-11).  In 2002, we were not a stellar school: academic performance was low, student discipline referrals were high, and bullying was often tolerated.

Our Character Education program has been refined to ensure that character is fully embedded in all aspects of daily school life.  To our neighbors and to ourselves, we demonstrate respect, responsibility, caring and service as core ethical outcomes to show that we have nurtured in ourselves the perseverance, compassion, and self-discipline necessary to be good citizens.  

Mark Twain Elementary School has been recognized as a Missouri School of Character (2008 and 2011), a Missouri Gold Star School (2009), a National Blue Ribbon School (2009), and a National School of Character (2011). Click Here for the Full Story.

Ridgewood Middle School

Ridgewood had all the marks of the proverbial "failing school": high absenteeism, low academic achievement and a constant stream of discipline problems. Located in a poor community plagued by inadequate housing and meth labs, the school had graffiti on the walls, profanity echoing in the halls and a rusty chain fence surrounding it. 

Part of their success was that the Ridgewood staff learned early on that "character education" is far more than slogans or quick-fix lessons about a word of the week. To be effective, character education must become integral to the daily actions of everyone in the school community.

Ridgewood Middle School was designated a National School of Character by Character.org in 2006. Click Here for the Full Story.