April 30, 2009
Karla Denny, Director of Communications, 785-296-4876
Schools and Districts To Receive Character Education Awards
KEY FACTS:
What: Character Education Awards
When: May 7, 2009, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site
The Kansas State Department of Education in partnership with the National Park Service will be recognizing four Kansas schools and/or districts that have demonstrated outstanding character education programs. State Senator Vickie Schmidt and State Board of Education Chairperson Janet Waugh will be providing remarks and presenting the awards at the Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site on May 7th at 11:00 a.m.
The Kansas Schools of Character Award recipients are schools and/or districts that have demonstrated education principles that include creating a caring school community, engaging families and community members as partners in character-building efforts, fostering self-motivation, and implementing meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops character, and helps students succeed.
The awards are made possible through a grant sponsored by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) <http://www.character.org/> a national organization promoting character education programs in schools. According to CEP, “Character education is a national movement creating schools that foster ethical, responsible and caring young people by modeling and teaching good character through an emphasis on universal values that we all share.”
The schools receiving awards include Hesston District USD 460; Gardner Edgerton District USD 231; St. Mark’s Charter School, Colwich, USD 267; and Rawlins County High School, Atwood, USD 105.
Other officials to be present at the ceremony include Dennis Vásquez, Superintendent, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site; Cindy Patton, Executive Director, Topeka City of Character Project; Sue Kidd, Kansas Character Education Grant Coordinator; Dr. Tom Foster, Director of Standards and Assessments, Division of Learning Services (KSDE) and Lynn Vásquez, Education Program Consultant for History/Government, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).
For more information contact Kent Reed, KSDE Project Director for Character Education, Phone: 785-296-8109; Email: kreed@ksde.org
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