Why Character Education Matters

Unlike academics, character education is not tested or monitored for school accountability purposes and may fall down the list of priorities. It could be argued in today's world, it is the most important skill set we need our students to connect with and take with them into the world!

One of our favorite projects is the State Schools of Character program for Texas. This is the 6th year that TEPSA has been the state sponsor and it is so inspiring to read the applications and learn about all the great things going on in schools across the state. If you have ever heard someone say they don't have time for character education - they are totally missing the mark. It should be embedded in the work we do everyday!

Because students spend so much time in school, our schools offer a critically important opportunity to ensure that all students get the support and help they need to reach their full potential. Schools that embrace character education become places people want to be because they bring out the best in everyone.                                                - from character.org

Don't we want that for our staff, students and families? Schools to be a place that people want to be and bring out the best in others - I do!! Building this should be the number one priority of schools. If a culture exists where core values are collaboratively developed, understood, taught and lived out - learning will go far beyond expectations. We've all seen the stories and about that teacher or principal who brought their students to amazing success in the face of extreme challenges. This doesn't happen with implementing the latest technology or a new academic program. It always goes back to the dedication and commitment of educators building strong relationships to bring out the best in others - that is character education.

We've learned so much about the quality tenets of character education and what schools should be doing from being a part of this process. It is not about a program or specific training to develop strong character in your staff and students. While there are several quality initiatives that exists, they are not a necessity to be successful. A great free resource is the framework of the 11 Principles of Effective Character Education. These principles were developed by experts in the field and serve as a way to assess campus efforts around character education.

The 11 Principles are:

1. The school community promotes core ethical and performance values as the foundation of good character.
2. The school defines “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling, and doing.
3. The school uses a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character development.
4. The school creates a caring community.
5. The school provides students with opportunities for moral action.
6. The school offers a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners, develops their character, and helps them to succeed.
7. The school fosters students’ self-motivation.
8. The school staff is an ethical learning community that shares responsibility for character education and adheres to the same core values that guide the students.
9. The school fosters shared leadership and long-range support of the character education initiative.
10. The school engages families and community members as partners in the character-building effort.
11. The school regularly assesses its culture and climate, the functioning of its staff as character educators, and the extent to which its students manifest good character.

How is your school doing in your character education efforts? Most campuses are doing several of these very well, but there is always room to grow. One area where I see schools often missing the mark is in developing self/intrinsic motivation. Educators tend to rely heavily on individual awards and extrinsic motivators for encouragement. Research shows that extrinsic motivation only produces short term effects (at best). As a teacher I was never good at keeping up with the sticker charts or prize patrol for my students. I knew in my heart if they were doing it for a sticker or prize, that wasn't the right reason. I wanted my students (and my own children) to make good choices even when no one was watching because that is where true character shows.

Moving to intrinsic motivation takes time and commitment. Edutopia has some great ideas to help develop intrinsic motivation in students. Kids also learn to be their best selves by watching strong role models (you!) and learning about others exhibiting strong character in difficult situations. Scholastic put together a great list for elementary educators of 100 books that develop character with lesson guides and resources. Sometimes we need to develop more intrinsic motivation in our staff too. Daniel Pink explains the puzzle of motivation in this TED-Talk. The true keys he explains in his book Drive are autonomy, mastery and purpose. If you haven't read it yet, you should.

Another area where the 11 principles takes it to a deeper level is in the opportunity for moral action through service learning. Many campuses do community service projects and that is fine. But service learning empowers students to identify a community need and lead the initiative while integrating academic content within the project.

Service learning is different than community service in several key ways. Service learning includes student leadership, reflective and academic components, and chances for celebration once the service activity has been successfully completed. Students reflect on community needs, ways to help, and once their service has been completed, they can internalize how their efforts have helped, while learning more about academics such as geography, math, or science.                - from character.org

If you are looking for more ways to develop character I hope you gained a little insight reading this. Some other great resources on character education include:

• SEL and character standards adopted in Kansas as a part of their curriculum
• The Essential 6Rs of Bully Prevention by Dr. Michele Borba
• Restorative Practices to gain empathy and change behavior
• Making Caring Common Project from Harvard School of Education

Drumroll...the 2017 State Schools of Character for 2017 have just been named! A huge congratulations to the campuses that received this recognition as it does not come easy - and congratulations to all of the other schools that are doing great things to build quality character that have not applied...yet. Check out the schools listed and plan a visit (in person or virtual) to one near you to learn more. A wonderful thing about schools of character is they love to share the work they are doing to help others!

We'll start and end with Martin Luther King's thoughts because no one said it better. "Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."

Kirsten Hund

Associate Executive Director for Instruction

Have you ever heard the name Ann Whitney? Until recently, I hadn’t either. On a visit to the Hamilton County courthouse to help my mom with a house deed issue, I noticed a monument on the courthouse lawn that paid homage to Miss Whitney. It read, ” In memory of Ann Whitney. Born in Massachusetts about 1835. Massacred by Comanche Indians July 9, 1867, while protecting her pupils.”

It also gave the interesting information that the “school was located 7 miles northeast of Hamilton on the Juan de la Garza Survey.”

I found this monument fascinating. Teachers and principals have been standing up for students since there have been schools. Educators were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of their students then, just as they are now. Teachers, principals, and school personnel do so without weapons, without body armor, and without self-defense training. If called upon, teachers and principals will place themselves between their students and harm.

Recently, my daughter’s school went into a lock-down. As a first grade teacher, she followed the district protocol and quietly read to her students, making sure that they stayed calm, all the while planning her move if danger appeared at her door. Thankfully, it was a false alarm, but it demonstrates that teachers in classrooms across our state are ready to defend the children of their communities.

And, who can forget the heroic efforts of Principal Dawn Hochsprung, of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut? She confronted a shooter as he entered the school and alerted school personnel before losing her life in the line of duty. I was fortunate to pay my respects to her on behalf of NAESP and TEPSA. The outpouring of respect from this small community towards principal Hochsprung was touching. She’s another example of the selfless love for children that educators across the nation demonstrate on a daily basis.

Though teachers and principals don’t face down killers every day, they do visit homes in sometimes dangerous areas, they meet with parents who are dealing with broken marriages and students who are hurting, and they are ‘on duty’ in defense of children while at school or even when in public.

So, before we get too deep in the weeds of state-required testing, budget cuts, and the mundane issues that fill your day, and in memory of Miss Ann Whitney and in honor of teachers, principals, and all those who work in our schools, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Let me know what you think.

Looks like summer is winding down for students and teachers. I know you are already at your desk, in your schools, and are attending those pesky administrative retreats and meetings. Many of you are trying to complete last minute hires, changes in schedules, and all the other miscellaneous items that come from being a principal.

Now, you also need to prepare your teachers for the fallout of SB 507. You know, that requirement to place video cameras in classrooms that serve 50% or more special education students when requested

by a parent. Well, the final rules have just now been released. Here are the changes to rule that you might be particularly be interested in:

• Modifications were made to the definitions of “parent” and “staff member” to clarify that a request for video surveillance must be made by the parent of a child in the classroom or a staff member who is assigned to the classroom that is the subject of the request.
• Incident now means an “event or circumstance that involved alleged ‘abuse’ or ‘neglect’ ... of a student by an employee of the school district or charter school or alleged ‘physical abuse’ or ‘sexual abuse’ ... of a student by another student; and allegedly occurred in a self-contained classroom or other special education setting in which video surveillance ... is conducted.”
• An amendment was made to clarify that video surveillance applies during the regular school year and during extended school year services.
• A person who views a video recording and has cause to believe that the recording documents possible abuse or neglect of a child must submit a report to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or other authority.
• A school district employee who is the subject of a disciplinary action has the right to request the recording believed to document a possible violation. A school district must provide the recording for viewing.
• The final rules are effective August 15, 2016. A request for an opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding SB 507 remains pending and could lead to rule changes in the future. - wording by Texas Association of School Administrators

For the complete rules, visit:  See the final rules.

As always, check with TEPSA if you have questions that arise over SB 507.

Students in A World Gone Mad

As I watch news I cannot help but be saddened for our country. We are in a time when the moral fabric of our nation is, and will continue to be, tested.

Our children are not immune from hearing about the worst our country has to offer. They are in the room when we are watching the news. They are listening to what we say in our homes and with our friends. Many of our students live in situations of violence or neglect. Those students may have experienced abuse at the hands of those they look to for protection and comfort.

Children of all stripes will show up at your school in August. Kids in stable homes, dysfunctional homes, those who live in houses, or apartments, or who are homeless will all cross the threshold of your school. Your students will come into contact with bus drivers, cafeteria personnel, teacher aides, and many more school employees each day. The students in the schools in which you lead are depending on you to place each of them in just the right classroom with just the right teacher. Every student will be looking to you for love and direction.

I am comforted you, your teachers, and your entire school staff are up to the task. For many, many years society has asked our schools to cure society's ills and to provide a place of safety for all kids. I agree with them! You are doing exactly that! How many struggling neighborhoods do we see where schools serve as a refuge for children? I have served in communities where the local school was the only place of peace for kids, where families looked to for social services, and where parents knew their children would be provided a way to the American dream. And, you serve there now! I'm proud to say you and your schools can provide the solution for our country that so many seek.

Thank you for sacrificing so much to impact so many for so little in return. Thank you!

mark@tepsa.org

Another School Year, Another Group of Children You’ve Helped Grow

Another School Year, Another Group of Children You’ve Helped Grow

As another school year ends, let’s ponder our past year:

• We’re mired in the outcome of a flawed testing system that was wrought with problems that negatively impact students, teachers, principals, and schools.
• We’ve seen the appointment of a pro-voucher TEA Commissioner of Education who proceeded to clean house and hire 3 pro-voucher lieutenants.
• Several pro-public education legislators retired. Voters elected a mixed bag of replacements who may, or may not, support public schools. The Texas Senate is firmly in the ‘destroy public education’ crowd, while the Texas House has turned into the rational chamber.
• Floods have ravaged many parts of the state and there are school districts that will need to rush to repair and rebuild before the next school year.
• Schools continue to best the expectations of the public and the legislature!
• The members of TEPSA were very active in the last legislative session and helped bring about literacy and math academies, pre-K legislation, help for TRSCare, requirements for a valid and reliable test (that’s not working for us, is it). You also helped defeat bills that dealt with vouchers, parent triggers, and denial of payroll deductions for associations.

Most of all though, you’ve had opportunities to work with over 3.4 million children across Texas! You have been, and continue to be, their lifeline for a happy, productive life!

When I retired after 33 years of education, 30 of those as a principal or assistant principal, in schools from 1,200 students to 600 students, I figure I have been blessed to work with over 24,000 students. How many have you touched in a positive manner?  I hope you realize as you go through the coming years that you make a wonderful, positive impression on kids.

Thank you for your service.

Hey, let’s start a conversation on students (no names of course) who have made an impact on you. Reply to this blog and tell us your story.

Mark Terry, Deputy Executive Director                                                                           

May 24, 2016 is one of the most crucial run-off election dates in many years. This primary election finale will surely set the course for the next legislative session. The key will be, do we have a legislature that will be supportive of public education and the children we serve, or will we have politicians bent on bringing down public education so that schools become profit centers for investors? While TEPSA does not endorse candidates, we do encourage you, our members, to become active in voting, active in encouraging your staff and parents to vote, and conscientious in researching to find which candidates are committed to public schools, the system dedicated to providing schooling for over 90% of the children of Texas.

Tomorrow, please encourage your teachers to vote in your run-off elections. Cover lunch or recess, allow them carpool opportunities, and allow your staff to leave early to vote.

Here are some helpful links:

For information on pro-education Texas Parent PAC-vetted candidates go to http://www.txparentpac.com/.

For ideas on how to encourage a culture of voting in your school and responses to questions regarding public education try www.teachthevote.org/.

Where to vote in your area? http://www.teachthevote.org/news/2016/05/12/details-on-early-voting-and-fast-facts-about-runoffs/.

Still need information? Call me at the TEPSA office or email me: mark@tepsa.org.

TEPSA Voting Series: Stand Up for Children!

From the Tribute to Texas Children monument
on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol

TEPSA has always been dedicated to assisting principals, assistant principals, and supervisors in providing the children of Texas with a superior education. Education provides our children, your children, with the skills to further their education through college or to find a worthwhile job after high school. Maybe even more important, it provides them with the skills to be a good citizen and to appreciate the beliefs, ethnicity, and race of all people.

I am afraid that our elected officials and extremists groups are actively working to undermine the basic tenet of the Texas Constitution, Article 7, Sec 1, "...being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools."  How can this happen when groups help elect legislators whose goal it is to destroy public education and replace them with a system of disjointed, for-profit schools that cater to the few. And which we the people have little control.

I hate to admit it, but educators have allowed this to happen! We have not loudly and proudly supported those politicians who support education. We have allowed radicals to take over our system of legislating education that fits their own ideals, not what is best for children, but what is best for profiteers.

How can we save our schools? How can we save our children? We can vote! We can encourage our teachers, employees, and parents to vote! We can establish cultures of voting within our school communities!

We must vote in the primary elections! We should vote in the Early Voting period which ends February 26. Primary election voting day is March 1.

Don't know who to vote for, go to txparentpac.com. To view their endorsements of candidates who support public education. You can also visit teachthevote.org for information on encouraging voting. and, don't miss www.texaseducatorsvote.com for ideas on creating that culture of voting.

Here are a few ideas I have used or have heard from TEPSA members:

• Go vote in the early voting period, get your "I Voted" sticker and place it by your name in the faculty mailbox area.
• Cover lunches or recess so that your teachers can vote.
• One district is providing bus services for their employees so they can vote.
• Don't forget you secretaries, custodians, and all other employees in encouaging them to vote.
• One principal is giving 'jeans' passes to all who vote.

Comment on your own ways to foster voting by educators. I'll add them to our comments section.

For the sake of our children and our grandchildren, let's make a positive impact on this election!