2010 MN Schools of Character & Promising Practices Awards Ceremony
Nine Schools Honored at Minnesota State Schools of Character and Promising Practices Award Ceremony
On May 20, Synergy & Leadership Exchange (Synergy, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), held the third annual Minnesota State Schools of Character and Promising Practices Award Ceremony in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda. Special guest speakers included Assistant Commissioner of Education Karen Klinzing, Representative Dean Urdahl, Former Assistant U.S Attorney Hank Shea, and Nan Peterson, Service Learning Director from The Blake School, a 2009 National School of Character.
Assistant Commissioner Klinzing, Representative Urdahl, Shea and Peterson joined Synergy Board Chair Keith Wenner and Synergy Education & Innovations Director Wanda Sommers Wall to congratulate and distribute recognition awards to schools in Minnesota for the successful implementation of character education programs. A reception followed the ceremony in the Minnesota State Capitol Great Hall.
2010 honorees include:
2010 Minnesota School of Character
- Horace May Elementary School, Bemidji
- Lakes International Language Academy, Forest Lake
- Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet School, St. Paul
2010 Emerging Minnesota School of Character
- Bamber Valley Elementary School, Rochester
2010 Minnesota Promising Practice Awards
- Bamber Valley Elementary School, Rochester
- Concordia Academy, Roseville
- Creek Valley Elementary, Edina
- Horace May Elementary School, Bemidji
- Lakes International Language Academy, Forest Lake
- Orono Middle School, Long Lake
- Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet School, St. Paul
- School for All Seasons, Isanti
- Washington Elementary, Owatonna
In addition, Lakes International Language Academy was selected as a national “Profile in Character” award honoree by the Character Education Partnership (CEP). They are one of eighteen schools recognized nationally for their exemplary and unique demonstration of one or more of CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education.
The Minnesota State Schools of Character Award is modeled after the National Schools of Character (NSOC) program sponsored by CEP and based on their Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education. The program recognizes schools and/or districts that excel in exemplifying the eleven 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.
Photos from the Ceremony: (Please click on each image for a larger view)