ADDING MULTIMEDIA Houston I.S.D. Receives Character Education Partnership National Lighthouse Award.

HOUSTON -- The Houston Independent School District (HISD) will be honored with the first ever National Lighthouse Award for Large Urban School Districts at the Character Education Partnership's (CEP) Annual Forum Exploring Pathways to Civic Character at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston, Oct. 22, 2004, as part of CEP's National Schools of Character Awards program. The Houston Independent School District will receive the honor during a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 22, at 12:45 p.m. at The Westin Galleria Hotel.

CEP is honoring HISD as a beacon to other large urban districts, where it is often hard to implement the comprehensive models of reform outlined in CEP's Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education, for specific measures that it has taken in cultivating and nurturing quality character education efforts. CEP's Blue Ribbon Panel has concluded that HISD offers a model that addresses two critical foundational issues necessary for the journey toward effective character education. These are unwavering commitments from the top leaders and governance board and substantial partnerships within the community.

With 310 schools and well over 200,000 students, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the seventh largest school district in the United States. It might have been overwhelmed by the task of character education; instead it has maintained its commitment to character development for more than 15 years. As Dot Woodfin, director of character education at HISD, puts it, "Knowledge is power, but it is not enough. Children need to learn to use that power well." Teachers, counselors and community representatives have developed a resource guide that focuses on the nine core ethical values adopted by the district: self-esteem, honesty, respect, trust, loyalty, justice, commitment, self-discipline and self-reliance. In addition, the district publishes a monthly newsletter with character education tips for teachers, administrators and parents; information about the value of the month; quotations; and suggested readings.

There are district wide character-building activities for students as well. For example, to help students recognize the value of diversity and to create a climate in which everyone is treated with respect, HISD has incorporated four distinct cultural heritage celebrations into the curriculum each year. Hispanic heritage is the focus in September; American heritage, the focus in November; Black heritage, the focus in February; and Asian-Pacific heritage, the focus in May. Students wear traditional costumes as they perform cultural dances, parents provide distinctive foods, and a festive atmosphere pervades the campuses and the community.

Within the district framework, individual school staffs have a great deal of leeway. As a result, HISD schools have developed a wide range of innovative activities to support and enhance their character education programs. For example, Cunningham Elementary School parents hear speeches on social issues and are encouraged to participate in character education at a monthly Books and Breakfast Hour, The Peace Club members at Milby High School created posters in several different languages to promote the theme "Love Instead of Hate," and Paul Revere Middle School students formed a Peer Mediation Council to ensure that no student would have to deal with his or problems alone. At the end of every year, each school files a report on its character education programs with Woodfin; she notes successes and problem areas, makes recommendations, and does site visits.

HISD is seeking to increase its efforts in character education even further. In July of 2002, the district obtained a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the Houston Partnership for Character. Members of the partnership say, "We believe our commitment to establish a strong foundation for each of our students, teachers, administrators and parents, built upon the principles of our nationally recognized character education program, will ensure a brighter future for every member of our society. We will measure our success by the actions of our students who will demonstrate the attributes of good character . . . every day . . . every way . . . everywhere." If the history of character education at HISD is any indication, their efforts will be successful.

Houston Independent School District is being honored along with ten other schools and districts selected as 2004 National Schools of Character. This year's winners are: River Oaks Baptist School (grades preK-8), Houston; Academy for Learning (grades 9-12), Blue Island, Ill.; Amador Valley High School (grades 9-12), Pleasanton, Calif.; Bessey Creek Elementary School (grades K-5), Palm City, Fla.; Cranford High School (grades 9-12), Cranford, N.J.; McMurray Elementary School (grades 4-6), Murray, Pa.; Pleasanton Unified School District (grades K-12), Pleasanton, Calif.; The Classical Academy (grades K-12), Colorado Springs, Colo.; Westbrook Elementary School (grades K-5), Bethesda, Md.; Yorktown High School (grades 9-12), Arlington, Va.

The program is made possible by generous support from the UAW-GM Center for Human Resources, the Boeing Company, The Anschutz Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. It is administered by the Character Education Partnership (CEP), the nation's premier nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition leading the charge on character education in schools.

CEP is honoring HISD at an Oct. 22 ceremony and honors luncheon held during CEP's Annual Forum. HISD will receive a National Lighthouse Award for Large Urban School Districts flag and a $2,000 incentive grant.

The Character Education Partnership is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in our young people as an essential way of promoting a more compassionate and responsible society. CEP helps thousands of teachers and principals build into the curriculum and school culture the core ethical values that will shape future generations of citizens. For information on 2005 National Schools of Character applications or CEP's Annual Forum please visit www.character.org.