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2020 OK and National Ethics Bowl Coming Soon

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If you are interested in developing teams of high school students to compete in the 2020 State and National competition, the next state Ethics Bowl is February 8, 2020.
The Oklahoma Region High School Ethics Bowl  will be at the Cox Center in Oklahoma City, OK.
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For more information and who to contact follow this link --               http://www.okethicsbowl.com/what-is-an-ethics-bowl 

The 2020 S.O.C. Application 
​Is Now Open
The on-line application for 2020 State and National Schools and Districts of Character has opened.  The application deadline is the first week of December. 
You may also consider the following - ​
  • Consider having an 11 Principles Professional Development.
  • Register for a workshop to learn how to best write a successful School of Character application. 
  • Consider writing for a Promising Practice in character development. 

​Another Great Celebration of Oklahoma Schools!

Oklahoma Was Well Represented
at the 2019 National Forum
The annual celebration of Oklahoma's 2019 National Schools of Character and ​Promising Practice recipients on September 25 was a tremendous success. 
Check on the Celebration page for details!
Educators from schools around Oklahoma attended Character.org's National Forum on Character in        Washington DC. 
Make your plans to attend next year and consider applying for State and National School of Character.

​2019 Promising Practices in Character Development Announced

​The New 2019 Introduction to the
​11 Principles

Why Should You Join OKcharacter.org in Helping Oklahoma
Schools Develop Cultures of Character?

“I think the most important thing we do in schools today is develop character.”
“Through the 11 Principles we found the vehicle that helped us grow and mature as a district in our character education efforts. In them we had a way to evaluate and assess our culture and in applying the 11 Principles framework we recognized that we had work to do in a number of areas. We realize that character development is a continuous journey and that there is not a finish line.  With the help of OKcharacter.org our district will continue to evolve and mature in this process.”

Don Raleigh, Superintendent
Pryor Public Schools
​All schools are NSOC
Pryor, Oklahoma 
“We are committed to aiding OKcharacter.org in spreading the character initiative.” 
“Our faculty took part in staff development sessions on the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education and then segregated by Principle our programs, events, routines, areas of service, and integration of character within curricula. Having what we believed to be a great school coupled with the culture growth that resulted from implementing the 11 Principles we applied for School of Character in 2014 and became Oklahoma’s first elementary to be a State & National School of Character.”
 
Ronia Davison, Principal
Sadler Arts Academy
​2014 & 2019 NSOC
Muskogee, OK
" I have not been part of a more meaningful experience."
"As a professional educator of almost 40 years, I have not been part of a more meaningful experience than the Schools of Character process. The 11 Principles​ has helped us to evaluate ourselves in such a way that it elevated us to the next level in developing a true culture of good character. And the most amazing and beneficial aspect is that it is on-going. More than being certified as a School of Character, the 11 Principles is a tool for continued improvement at Eisenhower."
 
Charlotte Oates, former Principal
Eisenhower High School
​2016 NSOC
Lawton, OK 
“Character-building goes right down into individual’s hearts… it is the most powerful form of leadership influence.”

“Helping schools build a culture of character is one of the greatest investments businesses can make. Developing student character today will produce better families, neighbors, community leaders, employees, and employers in the future.”
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Tom Hill, Board Chairman
Kimray, Inc
Oklahoma City, OK
“Every child has potential and helping them build good character determines their degree of success as adults.”
 
“As a businessman I know the importance of good character and I believe in the need for character development in our young people. At Charlie’s Chicken we are committed to our support of the Schools of Character programs and the impact they are having throughout Oklahoma.” 

Charlie Randolph, CEO
Charlie's Chicken, Inc
Muskogee, OK
“Schools that build good character in students are producing the type of future citizens we need in Oklahoma.”
 
“If all of our students in every Oklahoma school could be involved in the ‘Schools of Character’ programs, it would have a greater impact than any new teaching method on any subject ever has.”
 
Jerry McPeak
Former State Representative
Warner, OK

Developing a Culture of Character Can Begin Today.
Why Start the Character Journey?
  • Good Character Has Always Been Needed – Today is No Exception
The 11 Principles of Effective Character Education provides the means for evaluating current status and mapping a future course.

  • A Culture of Character Only Happens When It Is Done Intentionally With Purpose, Dedication, and Hard Work
OKcharacter.org helps schools and districts foster and cultivate climates in which students and adults flourish and succeed. 

  • Schools of Character Not Only Go the Way – They Lead the Way
We are not in this alone! Schools that develop cultures of character not only benefit with higher academics, attendance, and improved behavior – they become beacons for other schools to begin the journey. 
OKCharacter.org is a 501c3 Oklahoma non-profit organization that helps public, charter, and private schools throughout Oklahoma implement best practices for character development through evaluation and improvement of the culture and climate of the schools. Although many states have Schools of Character State Coordinators, we are the first organization to be an official affiliate of the Washington D.C. based Character.org.
OKCharacter,org:
  • Provides training in the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education developed by Character.org which has aided and recognized exemplary schools since the mid-1990s.
  • Assists schools in evaluating their culture and climate as they take steps toward becoming State and National Schools of Character. The emphasis in character development is not relegated to students but also has an emphasis on staff, both certified and support.
  • Acts as a resource for understanding and navigating the School of Character and Promising Practice applications.

An Affiliate of Character.org

In 2016 Oklahoma became the first state to have an organization that is an authorized affiliate of Character.org.
OKcharacter.org offers local help to schools and districts throughout the state.

"The Schools of Character programs sponsored by Character.org in Washington, D.C. have the potential to revolutionize school culture across our great state of Oklahoma. As former Governor of Oklahoma and past Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Character.org, I heartily recommend that schools across the state look seriously into implementing the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education, apply for Promising Practices recognition, and begin the process of becoming National Schools of Character."
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Governor Frank Keating
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