NEWS FROM THE CENTER FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

The Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and recognizing high levels of academic achievement for students, teachers, and educational leaders. In addition, it is our goal to act as a catalyst for increasing student academic achievement through improved school performance, ethical educational practices, and accountability tools. For more information on their programs and services, please visit the CAE website: www.mncae.org.

Schools Honored at Minnesota State Schools of Character and Promising Practices Award Ceremony

On May 21, the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) held the second Minnesota State Schools of Character and Promising Practices Award Ceremony in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda. Special guest speakers included Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren, Representative Dean Urdahl, and Peter Goelz from Orono High School.

Commissioner Seagren and Representative Urdahl joined CAE Board Chair Keith Wenner, CAE Executive Director Dr. Les Martisko and CAE Education & Innovations Director Wanda Sommers Wall in offering congratulations and distributing recognition awards to schools in Minnesota who have successfully implemented character education programs. A reception followed the ceremony in the Minnesota State Capitol Great Hall.

Commissioner Seagren spoke fondly about her work with students in Minnesota and the importance of character education. She greeted all students attending the award ceremony with a smile and a warmness representative of a true character education advocate. Urdahl, a former social studies teacher, spoke powerfully about the need for character education in schools. Goelz, a junior from Orono High School, shared their 2008 award-winning promising practice.

In addition, The Blake School was selected as a National School of Character (NSOC), one of 10 selected from across the country. NSOC winners receive a banner, engraved award and a financial grant as high as $10,000. The amount of each grant is based on the size of the school or district, the extensiveness of the winner’s outreach plans and available resources. Half of each grant is used to enhance the honoree’s program and send a team to present at the CEP Forum; the other half is used for outreach to other educators. Outreach efforts include providing staff development and mentoring to other schools or districts.

The Minnesota State Schools of Character Award is modeled after the National Schools of Character (NSOC) program sponsored by the Character Education Partnership (CEP) and based on CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education. The program recognizes schools and/or districts that excel in exemplifying the 11 principles and demonstrate outstanding character education initiatives that yield positive results in student behavior, school climate and academic performance. Program requirements mirror those of the national award and state award winners are forwarded for national consideration.

The Minnesota Promising Practices Award recognizes schools in Minnesota that have developed and implemented a practice promoting character development in their schools. These practices must be specific, unique and transferable, provide measurable results and impact, and encompass at least one of the eleven principles.

Applications for the 2010 Schools of Character and Promising Practices will be posted to the CAE website later this summer. Please visit www.mncae.org for details.

 

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