February 3, 2020

Huntington Place Elementary School and Walker Elementary School are two of just 81 schools across the nation designated as 2020 State Schools of Character. Each year, Character.org recognizes schools with a dedicated focus on character development, which has a positive effect on academic achievement, behavior, and school climate.

Both Huntington Place and Walker have partnered with The Hope Institute at Samford University to develop and implement their schools’ character education programs. In developing these programs, both HPES and Walker surveyed their school communities to determine their school’s core values. At Huntington Place, the Wildcat Way reinforces the school’s core values of kindness, respect, compassion, honesty, and responsibility. At Walker, the RAMS Way is respectful, accountable, motivated, and self-controlled. At both schools, these core values are everyday language and woven into all aspects of a student’s learning. Also at both schools, students, staff, and faculty become part of character education groups that go across grade levels and home rooms, to create a greater sense of community and new relationships within the schools.

Character.org, which selects the State Schools of Character, is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. Character.org works with schools, families, workplaces, and communities to empower people of all ages to be ethical and compassionate citizens.

“These schools’ representatives, including educators, parents, and students, are working together to create stronger communities that exemplify the character strengths of honesty, caring, and responsibility,” Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Character.org‘s Board Chair and Interim CEO, said in a release announcing the State Schools of Character.

“We are honored to be validating their efforts and sharing their inspiring work with schools and school districts throughout the United States.”

Huntington Place and Walker are just two of the schools in our district that implement character education programs. Congratulations to both schools on an outstanding honor and a commitment to such important values.