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Jefferson Elementary and Early Childhood Center
named 2021 National Schools of Character!
Jefferson Elementary School in Pryor, OK, and Muskogee Early Childhood Center in Muskogee, OK, are two of the 47 schools and 1 district named 2021 National Schools/Districts of Character. Congratulations to both schools for repeating as State and National Schools of Character! 157 schools and districts filed applications last fall and being among the 47 that are named NSOC is exceptional and for each school to have done it twice is amazing!!
The designation for both State and National SOC lasts for 5 years and Jefferson and MECC first became NSOC in 2016.
The designation for both State and National SOC lasts for 5 years and Jefferson and MECC first became NSOC in 2016.
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Linda Tincher, principal of Jefferson Elementary school in Pryor, had this to say:
"Jefferson is honored to be recognized as a National School of Character for a second time. Since first becoming a School of Character in 2016 we realized that going through the certification process helped us celebrate our strengths and accomplishments in character education. The evaluations at both the state and national levels also helped us identify the areas of growth that we needed to address. The rigorous SOC application is a great 'check-up', and the 11 Principles of Effective Character Development provides us with an on-going blueprint for us to follow that ensures our learners are receiving a quality educational program in academics and character development.” |
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Dr. Malinda Lindsey, principal of Muskogee Early Childhood Center, said, “We are honored to be named a 2021 National School of Character. The application and review process were rigorous and gave us the opportunity to reflect on every detail of our curriculum, pedagogy, and practice. In 2015 we were an Honorable Mention school and in 2016 ECC was recognized as a State and National School of Character for the first time. Because we view the 11 Principles of Effective Character Development as a valuable reflective process that ignites growth and continuous improvement, we have, and will, continue the journey of establishing a positive culture of character in our school. We are truly excited to receive this distinction and look forward to a continued integration of these important life skills into our daily work with children.”
(See the article in the local Muskogee paper.) |
For additional information about Schools of Character, the 2021 Press Release, and a short video entitled, "What Makes A School Of Character", visit the Character.org website.
On JUNE 7 the application will OPEN for 2022 Schools of Character. The filing Deadline is set for November 19, 2021.
2021 Schools of Character - 5 Oklahoma Schools Recognized
Character.org has announced that there are 3 OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS named 2021 State Schools of Character:
Jefferson Elementary School in Pryor. Lincoln Elementary School in Pryor. Muskogee Early Childhood Center. The three schools will now be evaluated for National School of Character status. 2 more Oklahoma schools are named Honorable Mention for 2021: Dove Science Academy South in Oklahoma City. Lawton High School in Lawton. |
RESULTS of the 2021 Oklahoma High School Ethics Bowl
On Saturday, February 13, 2021, a total of 14 student teams from 5 Oklahoma high schools competed in the 2021 virtual High School Ethics Bowl.
Taking part in the state competition were:
1st - Team Plato
2nd - Team Socrates
3rd - Super Team
Having placed 1st in the OK Regional Ethics Bowl, Team Plato is expected to receive an invitation to the National High School Ethics Bowl virtual event in April.
Taking part in the state competition were:
- Altus High School – 1 team – Altus, OK
- Lawton High School – 6 teams – Lawton, OK
- Muskogee High School – 1 team – Muskogee, OK
- OK School of Science and Math - 2 team - OKC
- The Academy of Classical Christian Studies – 4 teams - OKC
1st - Team Plato
2nd - Team Socrates
3rd - Super Team
Having placed 1st in the OK Regional Ethics Bowl, Team Plato is expected to receive an invitation to the National High School Ethics Bowl virtual event in April.
Team Plato
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Team Socrates
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Super Team
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If you are interested in developing teams of high school students to compete in the 2022 State and National competition follow this link for contact information -- http://www.okcharacter.org/ethics-bowls.html
Merger to Promote Ethics and Character in Schools
OKcharacter.org and the SEED Foundation have merged the two non-profits to become one - Oklahoma Schools of Character.
SEED has been in existence for a number of years with a goal of promoting positive ethics in Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Please see the press release for more information:
SEED has been in existence for a number of years with a goal of promoting positive ethics in Oklahoma high schools and colleges. Please see the press release for more information:
| November 2020 Press Release |
Oklahomans attending the 2019 Forum
Oklahoma Educators Have Been Well Represented
at the Annual National Forum on Character
Since 2009, educators from schools across Oklahoma have attended Character.org's National Forum on Character in Washington DC.
Make your plans to attend the next Forum in Fall 2021
and consider applying for 2022 State and National School of Character when the application window opens in July 2021.
Make your plans to attend the next Forum in Fall 2021
and consider applying for 2022 State and National School of Character when the application window opens in July 2021.
2020 Promising Practices Announced
8 Oklahoma public schools were among those that Character.org recognized with 264 Promising Practices IN 2020. Each of the school or organization-based initiatives is a significant example of effective character development and aligned with one or more of our 11 Principles framework.
For more information about the schools and their Promising Practices follow this link:
http://www.okcharacter.org/promising-practices.html
For more information about the schools and their Promising Practices follow this link:
http://www.okcharacter.org/promising-practices.html
The New Introduction to the
11 Principles
Why Should You Help Oklahoma
Schools Develop Cultures of Character?
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“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. The 11 Principles helps us evaluate ourselves in such a way that it elevates to the next level in developing a true culture of good character. The most 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."
Charlotte Oates, former Principal Eisenhower High School 2016 NSOC Lawton, OK |
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“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?
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Oklahoma Schools of Character is a 501c3 Oklahoma non-profit organization that helps public, charter, and private schools throughout Oklahoma implement best practices for character development.
We do this by:
We do this by:
- Providing training in the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education developed by Character.org which has aided and recognized exemplary schools since the mid-1990s.
- Assisting 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.
- Acting as a resource for understanding and navigating the School of Character and Promising Practice applications.
- Facilitating Ethics Bowl events for high school and college student teams to compete at state and national levels by applying ethics to real life practice scenarios.
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"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 |
