2009 MN Schools of Character & Promising Practices Awards Ceremony

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 received national honors. Blake was named a 2009 National School of Character (NSOC) honoree by the Character Education Partnership (CEP). Blake is one of ten national schools of character selected from a pool of 185 applications from across the country and they will receive an award and grant at CEP’s 16th National Forum on Character Education, Citizens of Character – the Foundation of Democracy, to be held October 29–31, 2009, outside of Washington, DC. Blake will serve as a mentor and model for other schools and districts seeking to improve their character education efforts. The NSOC application process requires extensive reporting, documentation, and assessment of each school or district’s climate, academics, and programs to develop civic, moral, and social-emotional competencies.

View comments by Representative Dean Urdahl and Peter Goelz, student, Orono High School.

Photos from the Ceremony: (Please click on each image for a larger view)

Commissioner Alice Seagren	Commissioner Seagren talking with Students
Peter Goelz	Rep. Dean Urdahl