Schools Recognized for Outstanding Character Development

Ten National Schools of Character winners selected as models of effective
school reform

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Character Education
Partnership (CEP) named nine schools and one school district as 2009 National
Schools of Character.

The winners demonstrate that school transformation is possible through
low-cost, high-quality character education initiatives. They have closed the
achievement gap and raised academic expectations for all students, built
strong relationships and partnerships between parents, teachers, and students,
and given their students opportunities to serve their communities.

"All of the winners are wonderful exemplars of how comprehensive character
education can truly transform school culture and climate, which in turn allows
students and teachers to flourish," said CEP Executive Director Joe Mazzola.

The diverse group of winners includes Winners include
Alta S. Leary Elementary School - Warminster, PA
Bayless Junior High School - St. Louis, MO
Beverly Woods Elementary School - Charlotte, NC
The Blake School - Hopkins, MN
Colonel John Robinson School - Westford, MA
Fox C-6 School District - Arnold, MO
Greenfield Elementary School - Beverly Hills, MI
Long Elementary School - Crestwood, MO
Milwaukee College Prep School - Milwaukee, WI
Westwood Elementary School - Friendswood, TX

Missouri is a model for how excellence in character education can be attained,
according to Marvin Berkowitz, professor of character education at University
of Missouri-St. Louis.

"We are saturating schools with professional development, leadership training,
and best practices," Berkowitz said. "We have now been at it long enough that
our schools are hitting the mark after years of practice."

Winners receive an award and grant at CEP's National Forum on Character
Education, Citizens of Character - the Foundation of Democracy, October 29-31,
2009. Winners serve as mentors for other schools seeking to improve their
character education.

NSOC awards program
Since 1998, the NSOC awards program has recognized K-12 schools and districts
that provide exemplary character education programs that consistently yield
positive results in student behavior, citizenship, school climate, and
academic performance. The national awards program is administered by the
Character Education Partnership and made possible through the generous support
of the John Templeton Foundation and Lockheed Martin.

Character Education Partnership
The Character Education Partnership, based in Washington, D.C., is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of organizations and
individuals dedicated to helping schools develop people of good character for
a just and compassionate society. To learn more about CEP and the National and
State Schools of Character, visit www.character.org.

SOURCE Character Education Partnership

Rebecca Sipos of Character Education Partnership, +1-202-296-7743,
rsipos@character.org