Welcome to Project CHARACTER* Emerson Middle School Staff Development September 3, 2008

Created by: Jim Carroll Joe Montecalvo

Project CHARACTER* Developed by James J. Carroll, Ph.D., it was created as a result of a grant that was awarded by the U. S. Department of Education’s Character Education Program in July, 2008 to the Yonkers Public Schools

Jim and Joe also lead… Adapting Project LEGAL (since 1976: implemented in 34 states) for YPS (2007—2009) Project CRITICAL—Gifted Ed. project for Region 10 since 1996; $3M grant: 2004--2009

Project CHARACTER Co-Directors: Howard Krieger Jim Carroll, Ph.D.

Year 1 Target Schools Emerson Middle School Martin Luther King, Jr. Montesorri 27 School 21

Our Philosophy Is Illustrated in this Peanuts Cartoon

Citizenship and High Academic standards, Reinforcing the CHARACTER Citizenship and High Academic standards, Reinforcing the Aspen Character Traits, and Ethical Reasoning

CITIZENSHIP The Character Education Public Policy Analyst: Define (1) schoolwide, (2) classroom & (3) curriculum social problems & develop new public policy solutions

High Academic standards CEPPA & PPA & character ed will promote academic improvement.

Character Education Public Policy Analyst (CEPPA) Define the Problem Gather Evidence Identify the Causes Evaluate Existing Policies Develop Public Policy Solutions Select the Best Public Policy Solution

Reinforcing the ASPEN Character Traits respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, caring justice & fairness civic virtue & citizenship

Ethical Reasoning Using analysis and technology to solve our school’s problems and create a caring environment

Improved Academic Performance Goals of Project CHARACTER Caring Schools Improved Academic Performance

The key to our success is… Our School Community

School Leadership Teams (LT) Administrators Teachers Parents

Every faculty member should select one of the school-wide problems: Discipline (Sept-Nov) Academic Achievement (Dec-Feb) Parental Involvement (Mar-June) Committee meetings will be held on MONDAYS (after school for 1 hour)

The CEPPA addresses these school social problems… (a) discipline problems (b) students’ grades (c) participation in extracurricular activities (d) parental and community involvement (e) faculty and administration involvement (f) student and staff morale

If we all work together as a team… …then CHARACTER will achieve its goals and objectives in our four target schools

In Closing

Keep Your Deck Chairs Facing Forward!!! Remember: Keep Your Deck Chairs Facing Forward!!!