Other schools, districts also honored at ceremony in Topeka

Beloit Junior/Senior High School, Beloit Unified School District 273, and Nemaha Central Elementary/Middle School, Nemaha Central USD 115, were announced as 2018 Kansas Schools of Character on Thursday, May 3, during a special ceremony at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka.

Recognition for these schools is given though the Kansas Schools of Character Recognition Program and sponsoring organizations — KScharacter.org, Character.org, the Kansas State Department of Education and the Brown v. Board site.

Beloit Junior/Senior High School and Nemaha Central Elementary/Middle School are two of 63 schools across the country to be certified by Character.org as 2018 State Schools of Character. The 2018 Kansas Schools of Characters will now be considered for the highest distinction – National School of Character. The announcement will be made in Washington, D.C., later this month by Character.org.

The character award program recognizes schools and districts that have worked to enhance social, emotional and character development.

“These schools and districts are doing a tremendous job of ensuring each student is successful; and social, emotional and character development is a fundamental part of that success,” said Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson. “For Kansas to achieve its goal of leading the world in the success of each student, we have to address the needs of the whole child, which includes social and emotional growth. I congratulate each school and district on this outstanding achievement.”

Cindy Patton and Sue Kidd, with KScharacter.org, presented awards to the Kansas State Schools of Character, as well as other character awards to Kansas schools and districts, during Thursday’s ceremony.

Speakers and guests included Kent Reed, education program consultant for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE); Sherda Williams, superintendent of the Brown v. Board National Historic Site; Deena Horst, Kansas State Board of Education member, District 6; Myron Melton, education program consultant for KSDE; Christina Mann, a trainer with Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS); and Noalee McDonald-Augustine, chair of the Kansas Schools of Character Recognition Program.

Personnel from recognized schools and districts were invited to take part in a professional learning event after the ceremony. Dr. Mary Kaye Siebert presented “Leading Together: Creating Relational Truth” from 1 to 3 p.m. Siebert is the director of instructional services at Wamego USD 320 and a facilitator with the Center for Courage and Renewal.

More information on Kansas’ Social, Emotional and Character Development Standards, which the state adopted in 2012, can be found at http://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-M-Z/School-Counseling/Social-Emotional-and-Character-Development. The Eleven Principals of Effective Character Education by Character.org can be found at http://info.character.org/11-principles-download.

Other schools and districts that received recognition were:
 
Honorable Mention Kansas Schools of Character 2018
•    Anthony Elementary School, Leavenworth USD 453
•    David Brewer Elementary School, Leavenworth USD 453

Promising Practice in Character Education 2018
•    Anthony Elementary School, Leavenworth USD 453
•    David Brewer Elementary School, Leavenworth USD 453
•    Ravenwood Elementary School, Olathe USD 233
•    Lakeside Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250

Shifting School Culture 2018
•    John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500
•    Kansas City District, Kansas City USD 500

Enhanced Spotlight Recognition 2018
•    David Brewer Elementary School, Leavenworth USD 453
•    Horizons High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512
•    Manhattan Virtual Academy, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383
•    Waverly Elementary School, Lebo-Waverly USD 243

For more information about Kansas’ character development programs, see the Kansas Schools of Character website at KScharacter.org. For more information about State Schools of Character or National Schools of Character, visit character.org.