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April 30, 2018, is Schools of Character Day

Character.org has announced the 2018 State Schools of Character and two Oklahoma schools are on the list!
 Congratulations to:
Dove School of Discovery in Tulsa - visit the Discovery website here
MacArthur High School in Lawton - visit the MHS website here
The schools now await review for National Schools of Character status. Each school will have a site visit by a national evaluator in March or April.  
 
Locally, the next thing on the agenda for these two fine schools will be recognized on April 30th by the Oklahoma Senate and House as State Schools of Character. This will be the 7th year that the Legislature has celebrated our Oklahoma Schools of Character.
 
National Schools of Character (NSOC) will be announced on May 24th, 2018, and the schools will be recognized at the National Forum on Character in Washington D.C. in October. A third Oklahoma school, Dove Science Academy in Tulsa, is a 2017 State School of Character and has applied for 2018 NSOC.  Good luck to all three Oklahoma schools!

2017 Oklahoma Schools of Character Gala
The Gala in Oklahoma City on September 21st to celebrate our current and past State and National Schools of Character plus Promising Practice winners was a great success and a time of inspiration.
On September 21st Character.org aired a Facebook live Showcase of 2017 Oklahoma State and National School of Character, Eisenhower High School. 
Follow the Showcase link to see pictures  and the video.
May 8, 2017
Congratulations to these great Oklahoma schools for being named by Character.org​ as members of the 2017 class of National Schools of Character:
Dove Science Academy, Secondary - OKC – (6-12) 
Dove Elementary - OKC – (k-5) 
Eisenhower High School – Lawton - (9-12) 
Pryor Jr. High School – Pryor (7-9)  
Whittier Elementary School – Muskogee (k-6) 

For the complete list of National Schools and Districts of Character throughout the nation see the Character.org announcement.
They will be recognized at the National Forum on Character Education in Arlington, VA, October 19-21, 2017. ​
For more pictures visit the OKcharacter.org FaceBook page

OK Schools of Character Day - April 10, 2017

Through the cooperation and collaboration of State Senators and Representatives in six different Oklahoma districts, April 10th was named Oklahoma Schools of Character Day at the OKC Capitol.
Our six 2017 State Schools of Character were recognized on the floor of the Senate and in the House of Representatives with a joint Resolution for the work they are doing in character development.


​2017 Promising Practices Announced
 Character.org has awarded 9 Promising Practices for character development in Oklahoma for 2017. 
Since 2010 there have been 64 Promising Practices in Oklahoma.
Follow this link to see the full list and to find the link to the complete listing of awards nationally and internationally.

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
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
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, Principal
Eisenhower High School
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.”
​
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.

Schools of Character

A record 6 Oklahoma schools were selected as State Schools of Character in 2017.

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.

2016 Impact Report
"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 current 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