2012 MN Schools of Character & Promising Practices Awards Ceremony
Schools and Community Leaders Honored at the State Capitol for Promoting Positive Character
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie presented Governor Mark Dayton’s proclamation naming May 17, 2012 as Character Recognition Day in Minnesota. Synergy & Leadership Exchange (Synergy), in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), held the fifth annual Minnesota State Schools of Character and Promising Practices Award Ceremony in the Minnesota State Capitol.
Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom addressed the honorees and joined Ritchie and Synergy director Wanda Sommers Wall in congratulating the honorees and distributing recognition awards to schools for the successful implementation of character education programs. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman congratulated the honorees at a reception in the State Capitol Great Hall following the ceremony.
2012 honorees included:
2012 Minnesota School of Character
- Waseca High School, Waseca
2012 Minnesota Promising Practice Awards
- Avalon School, St. Paul for Project-Based Learning within an Advisory System
- Coon Rapids Middle School, Coon Rapids for Anti-Bullying Owning Up
- Ellis Middle School, Austin for Books For Babies
- Footprints Academy, Woodbury for Empowering Future Leaders
- Isanti Intermediate School and School for All Seasons, Isanti for Ride with Pride
- Lakes International Language Academy, Forest Lake for Celebrating Diversity: a MN Twins Partnership
- NRHEG Elementary, Ellendale for Kindness Matters Because I Matter at NRHEG Elementary
- Primrose School of Savage, Savage for Caring & Giving: Food Drive
- Taylors Falls Elementary, Taylors Falls for River Rewards
In addition, Avalon School, Ellis Middle School and Lakes International Language Academy were selected to receive a National Promising Practices award from the Character Education Partnership (CEP). CEP sponsors the annual program to showcase innovative best practices that have an impact across the nation and abroad. CEP will honor the 2012 recipients at the 19th National Forum on Character Education in Washington DC, November 1-3. To view the complete CEP press release, please visit www.synergyexchange.org.
The Minnesota State Schools of Character Award (MNSOC) 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, yielding 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, and encompass at least one of the eleven principles.
Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom presented Minnesota Ethical Citizens Awards to Reverend Bob Battle for the Urban Battle program and to the West Point Society of Minnesota for the Minnesota Student Leadership Seminar program. The Urban Battle program provides tutoring and mentoring for St. Paul school children. The Minnesota Student Leadership Seminar is a free one-day interactive seminar for high school students to explore the foundations of ethical leadership and their own personal values. Bostrom presented the awards on behalf of the Citizens for an Ethical Minnesota initiative supported by Synergy & Leadership Exchange.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie
Synergy Director Wanda Sommers Wall
Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom