Today, January 31, 2020, in Washington, D.C., Character.org, announced that Hilldale Elementary School and Valley View Elementary School, both schools in the Montville Township Public Schools district, have been named NEW JERSEY STATE SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER for 2020. Character.org is a national advocate and leader for character in schools, families, sports teams, and the workplace. The Montville Township, New Jersey, schools are two of only 81 throughout the nation that received the STATE SCHOOL OF CHARACTER designation.
Charactrer.org named 81 schools and 7 districts as State Schools of Character for 2020. In addition, one international school received certification.
Hilldale and Valley View will now be considered for NATIONAL SCHOOL OF CHARACTER designation.
Since 2016, four of the district’s other schools have been named both State and National Schools of Character. Those schools are: Cedar Hill Elementary School, William Mason Elementary School, Woodmont Elementary School and Robert R. Lazar Middle School. In addition, the Montville Township Public Schools district received the NATIONAL DISTRICT OF CHARACTER designation in 2018.
Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles of Character which include providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership, and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort.
“I am extremely proud of Hilldale and Valley View for receiving this outstanding recognition,” Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar said.” It represents integrated dedication to character education and a commitment –- from faculty, staff, students, administrators and families -- to the entire community.”
“Character education is a priority in all seven Montville Township Public Schools, Rovtar added, noting: “Character education initiatives have a positive impact on individual students and the community at large. I thank Character.org for this significant acknowledgement. I also thank all members of the district’s faculty and staff for their on-going dedication to character education.”
The 2020 National Schools of Character will be announced in May 2020. Character.org will honor these schools and districts at the 2020 National Forum to be held Oct 1-3, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Since its inception, Character.org’s Schools of Character program has positively impacted nearly 3 million students, staff, parents, and other community members. Each year, Character.org certifies schools and districts at the state level that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development which has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior, and school climate. Schools and districts announced today will be considered for Character.org’s highest distinction – National School of Character. (See the complete list of 2020 State Schools of Character below.)
“We are pleased to announce today the 2020 State Schools and Districts of Character,” said Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Character.org‘s Board Chair and Interim CEO. “These schools’ representatives, including educators, parents, and students, are working together to create stronger communities that exemplify the character strengths of honesty, caring, and responsibility. We are honored to be validating their efforts and sharing their inspiring work with schools and school districts throughout the United States.”
“We could not be more proud of this accomplishment and district recognition! To be named a State District of Character is the culmination of a multi-year goal that has involved every stakeholder in our community. It has been our privilege to create a culture and climate that values the development of a deliberate effort to build better citizens and a community of character,” said Daniel Novak, Director of Education, West Milford Township Public Schools.
To learn more about the schools chosen today and those in the midst of their 5-year certification as State Schools of Character, please visit Character.org.
About Character.org: Founded in 1993, Character.org is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. We work with schools, families, workplaces, and communities to educate, inspire, and empower people of all ages to be ethical and compassionate citizens. Our 11 Principles of Effective Character is a comprehensive framework that helps schools improve academic achievement, student behavior, and overall positive school climate. Visit www.character.org to learn more about the National Forum and the Schools of Character program.
List of State Schools and Districts
International
COLOMBIA SCHOOL OF CHARACTER
Colegio Nueva Granada, Colombia
STATE SCHOOLS OF CHARACTER
**Denotes State District of Character
ALABAMA
Hartselle Intermediate School
Huntington Place Elementary
Vestavia Hills Elementary at Cahaba Heights
Walker Elementary School
ARIZONA
Imagine Bell Canyon
Imagine Coolidge Elementary
FLORIDA
Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy
Imagine Schools at South Lake
GEORGIA
Rocky Branch Elementary School
ILLINOIS
**Harmony 175
KANSAS
Complete High School Maize
KENTUCKY
St. Matthews Elementary
MICHIGAN
Wattles Elementary
MINNESOTA
Cologne Academy
Waseca Jr. and Sr. High School
MISSOURI
Bayless Junior High School
Brown Elementary School
Cold Water Elementary
Concord Elementary School
Crestview Middle School
Highcroft Ridge Elementary
James E. Freer Elementary
Oak Brook Elementary School
Oakville High School
Orchard Farm Elementary School
Selvidge Middle School
Spoede Elementary School
Windsor High School
Wren Hollow Elementary School
NEW JERSEY
Aaron Decker School
Camden County Technical School
Camden County Technical Schools’ Pennsauken Campus
Catherine A. Dwyer School
Central Jersey College Prep
Cherry Hill High School West
Crescent Elementary School
Dennis B. O’Brien Elementary
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School #52
**Eastern Christian School Association
Grice Middle School
Hilldale Elementary School
Horace Mann Elementary School
Jefferson School
John E. Dwyer Technology Academy
Joseph H. Brensinger PS #17
Juan Pablo Duarte- Jose Julian Marti
Kindergarten Success Academy
**Lawrence Township Public Schools
M. Scott Carpenter Elementary School
Macopin Middle School
Marcus W. Newcomb Middle School
Memorial Elementary School
Old Bridge High School
**Old Bridge Township Public Schools
Oxford Central School
Pemberton Township High School
Saint Leo the Great School
Saint Peter School
Southwood Elementary School
Thomas Paine Elementary School
Valley View School
Victor Mravlag School No. 21
Waldwick Middle School
Walter M. Schirra Elementary School
**West Milford Township Public Schools
William A. Miller Elementary School
William F. Halloran School No. 22
NEW YORK
Bridgeport Elementary
Harvey Austin Elementary School
Jonas E. Salk Middle School
Mildred E. Strang Middle School
PENNSYLVANIA
Afton Elementary School
Bucks County Technical High School
Edgewood Elementary School
Fallsington Elementary School
M.M. Seylar Elementary School
Oxford Valley Elementary School
**Pennsbury School District
Pennwood Middle School
Quarry Hill Elementary School
William Penn Middle School
TEXAS
Clearbrook High School
Fort Settlement Middle School
Harmony School of Innovation – Houston
Mambrino STEAM Academy
School of Science and Technology – Alamo
Woodridge Elementary Alamo Heights
Zwink Elementary
VIRGINIA
**Imagine Schools