Name of Artifact: School-wide Character Education Proposal

Date of Artifact: January 25, 2023

Course #: GCU EAD 520
ELCC 2: Culture and Curriculum is the best fit for this assignment.
In order for students to succeed in the classroom, they not only have
to do the assignments, but also get along with others. Students must
possess all of the character traits, so they can be productive
members of society after graduation.
What is Character Education?

Students study a variety of topics in school to learn things about the world, but they must
also be taught how to interact with each other at school and with other members of
society.

“Feelings, thoughts, and actions all work together to form character. Character education
is the act of teaching students how to regulate those feelings, thoughts, and actions into
pro-social behaviors.” (Rayner, 2020)

Improving the character of the student leads to better behavior and higher academic
performance.
Positive Action

● A Character Education Program based on the philosophy that when a person feels
good about themselves than they do positive actions
● The program covers seven units catered to each grade level
○ The units between grades are the same in order to unify the message
● The program has training available for teachers, and they have staff available to aid
in the integration of the program
● Currently, my school uses the program Character Strong, and it is not a good fit for
our school culture
○ Teachers and students alike are not satisfied with the current program
Positive Action: Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle

● The goal of the program is to create a

positive cycle to promote a healthy
learning environment
● “Positive Action is based on the
intuitive philosophy that we feel good
about ourselves when we do positive
actions.” (Positive Action, Inc. 1998)
● A negative cycle leads to bad behavior
● Thoughts lead to actions which leads to
how one feels about themselves

(Positive Action, Inc. 1998)

Rationale Supports Mission and Vision
● Mission
○ “The mission of Copperas Cove ISD is to provide exceptional opportunities for each student through
exemplary instruction which inspires academic success, personal excellence, and responsible
citizenship.” (CCISD, 2014)
● Vision
○ “Copperas Cove ISD will be the premier public school district focusing on the education of the whole
child.” (CCISD, 2014)

Positive Action meets the needs of CCISD because it focuses on the same units for all
levels of education which unites the school. It also encompasses the whole child with
parent engagement.
Original Graphic of Character Traits

“People of good character are

guided by ethical principles even
when it’s physically dangerous or
detrimental to their careers, social
standing, or economic well-
being.” (Josephson, 2015)
Explanation of Program Rigor for Middle School

● Coordinate with the other schools in the district making sure each teacher is
trained and that the concepts of each unit are taught correctly in the classroom
to create a sense of unity
● Survey teachers, students, parents, and community members to see if the
program is making a difference and evaluate any needed services
● School safety is the number one goal to have a save environment to learn and
teach
● Instill core values where school, family, and community all work together for
the success of the students
Goals of Program

● How to have a healthy positive outlook about oneself

● Teach students how to behave and handle social situations appropriately
○ Leads to academic success of the students
● Learn and understand the seven units of the program
○ Self-concept, Positive actions for your body and mind, Managing yourself responsibly, Treating others
the way you want to be treated, Telling yourself the truth, Improving yourself continually, and Review
Evaluation and Stakeholder Support

● The Positive Action program has a built in support system to help with Grant writing,
Funding, and Monitoring surveys
● The community and stakeholders can help financially to make it a collaborative effort
● The surveys give the school a way to check the progress of the program and assess
effectiveness.
Comparison to Other Programs

Character Counts
● Same activity in each grade level
● Does not incorporate family or community
● Does not have supplemental lessons

Character Strong
● 5 minute video then discussion questions
● 15 minutes daily in a core class
● Teachers feel it is repetitive and there was no training
Steps to Take as Principal to Implement Program

Positive Action suggests appointing a project coordinator and representative committee to

help with the implementation process. Scheduling, training, and gathering materials
should be done in advance to help with the transition process. There needs to be a kick off
day when all the grades are on the same page, and a set schedule for all the teachers to
follow. The daily lesson must be introduced early in the morning and then the same
concept is reinforced throughout the day. All teachers need to be in the loop to create a
cohesive school culture.
References
● Rayner, L. (2020). What is character education? Graduate Programs for Educators. Retrieved
January 16, 2023, from https://www.graduateprogram.org/2020/03/what-is-character-education/
● Josephson, M. (2015). Character — What Is It and Why Is It important? Exemplary Business Ethics
& Leadership. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from
https://josephsononbusinessethics.com/2015/02/character-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/
● Positive Action, Inc. (1998). Positive action curriculum & program. Positive Action Curriculum &
Program | Positive Action. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.positiveaction.net/
● Character Counts. (2010). Why is character education important? Character Counts. Retrieved
January 16, 2023, from https://charactercounts.org/
● Character Strong. (2014). Character Strong. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from
https://characterstrong.com/
● CCISD Strategic Planning Team. (2014). Copperas Cove Independent School District. Retrieved
October 26, 2022, from https://www.ccisd.com/