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The Oklahoma Schools of ​Character Gala was a great success. 
For more pictures and information about our 2016 Schools of Character follow the link to the Gala page. 

The 2016 Schools of Character Application is Open
Download a Guide to the Application
Apply to Become a 2017 Oklahoma State and                          National School of Character 
As you prepare to write the application you may find the PDF of the 2017 application helpful. “We always encourage people to prepare their application first as a Word file,” said Sheril Morgan, National Director of the Schools of Character program.
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Former Schools of Character stress that while it is important to collect data in order to submit a high-quality application, the truly important thing is not the application – it is the growth that occurs during the application process. ​
​Schools considering applying this year or in 2018 are encouraged to access the many resources for applicants available on Character.org’s website, as well as information about a variety of assessment tools. 
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In Oklahoma, if you have questions or would like to explore the possibility of training in the 11 Principles of Effective Character Development, contact OKcharacter.org.  A brochure about the 2017 Schools of Character programs is also available on this website by following this link:

Registration is Open for the
​2016 National Forum

2016 National Forum on Character Education
On October 13 -15, 2016, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in downtown Washington, DC., plan on attending the world's premier character education and development conference. Educators from around the globe will gather to network and share ideas of exemplary character practices that are revolutionizing the cultures of schools.

For hundreds of us the Forum has made a lasting change for our schools and communities as leaders have cast a vision of what could be and what should be with attendees taking that vision and making it a reality for themselves, their students, and their school campuses.

"The experience was amazing! The opportunity to observe, listen, and especially to communicate with current school leaders who had and were transforming their schools into Schools of Character set a fire in my soul. By the Forum’s second day I had a vision of the path we would take our school and I left San Francisco convinced that developing and implementing a set of core character values and the focus provided by the 11 Principles was the key to turning Muskogee High School around." (Dewayne Pemberton, Principle of Muskogee High when it became Oklahoma's first State and National School of Character.)

Almost 80 Oklahoma educators have attended the Forum in the last two years and about 40 more have already registered for the 2016 Forum, thus helping to promote the Schools of Character movement in our state. Join us in Washington D.C. this October!

OK State Department of Education Celebrates Schools of Character

On July 26th OK State Superintendent of Schools, Joy Hofmeister, recognized the three Oklahoma State Schools of Character for 2016. The State Department of Education celebrated Jefferson Elementary and Lincoln Elementary that are part of Pryor Public Schools (pictured on the left) and the Early Childhood Center which is part of Muskogee Public Schools (pictured on the right).
For a video of the ceremony visit the OKcharacter.org Facebook page.

CCOSA Presentation

At the summer conference of the Cooperative Council of School Administrators in Norman, OK, there was a breakout session for Schools of Character attended by educators from around the state. Following the session Don Raleigh made a video statement that can be found on the OKcharacter.org Facebook page:
​https://www.facebook.com/945615558870676/videos/953756414723257/ 

Click HERE to download the slides of the PowerPoint used during the session. If you have questions let us know.

Congratulations to our Oklahoma 2016 National Schools of Character!

Jefferson Elementary School in Pryor
Lincoln Elementary in Pryor
Muskogee Early Childhood Center
​See the full list of 2016 NSOC schools and districts on the Character.org website.
To see the list of all 10 Oklahoma schools receiving recognition in 2016 see our Schools of Character page.
pryor_celebration_video_2016.mp4
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                                2016 Promising Practices 
Character.org has announced the 2016 Promising Practice awardees. A total of 326 from 29 U.S. states, Washington DC, Canada, China, Colombia, and Mexico – with the largest numbers from Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma.  In Oklahoma we had 11 schools from 6 different communities receive recognition. See the Slide Show of their Promising Practices here:

The R.O.A.D. Warrior

Dewayne Pemberton was the Principal of Muskogee High School when it became the first school in Oklahoma to be named a State and National School of Character in 2011. Follow the 11 Principles link to hear Dewayne discuss the establishment of Core Values, faculty buy-in, and the power of student leadership.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives Recognizes Schools

On March 2, 2016, the Oklahoma House of Representatives presented Citations to Oklahoma’s three 2016 State Schools of Character (SSOC). The Early Childhood Center (Muskogee), Jefferson Elementary (Pryor), and Lincoln Elementary (Pryor), join a total of 67 schools and 4 school districts nationally that are being evaluated for possible status as National Schools of Character (NSOC) by Character.og in Washington D.C. The organization will announce and celebrate the 2016 NSOC this May in D.C.
To see the complete list of State Schools of Character from around the nation visit the Character.org web-site HERE.
Applications for 2017 Schools of Character will open this June!

Follow the YouTube links below to view the House presentation:
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Left to right: Rep. Jerry McPeak, Don Raleigh (Pryor Supt.), Linda Tincher (Jefferson Principal), Rep. Ben Scherrer, Rep. Ken Walker, Karen Cook (Lincoln Principal), Malinda Lindsey (ECC Principal), Robert Greenlaw (OKCharacter.org), Lori Alexander (ECC teacher), Madison Tomlinson (OKCharacter.org), Sheril Morgan (National Director, Character.org), Mike Garde (Supt. of Muskogee Schools), Rep. George Faught.
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 10 Oklahoma schools were selected as Schools of Character in 2016.

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