CharacterPlus

As the new school year begins, many districts are focused on strengthening connection, culture, and student support.

The 2026–27 CharacterPlus Programming Guide highlights programs that can help schools build environments where students and staff thrive together.

📘 Start the year with intention: https://loom.ly/DGQUwaE

We’re proud to celebrate CharacterPlus Board Member Dr. Antoinette Boyd on receiving the Mackes Leadership Award from the National Association of Colleges and Employers!

Dr. Boyd’s commitment to service, opportunity and helping others build meaningful pathways to success reflects the kind of character leadership we’re proud to have represented on our board. Congratulations, Dr. Boyd!

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Maryville University

On this 25th anniversary of September 11, we remember the lives lost and the many acts of courage, compassion and service that followed.

𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

These are more than words. They are character strengths we can practice every day in our schools, workplaces, families and communities.

Today, we remember. We reflect. And we recommit to the character that brings us together.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲.

Every teacher remembers why they chose this profession: to inspire, encourage, and make a lasting difference in the lives of young people.

Today’s classrooms bring challenges no one anticipated. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗘) gives educators practical, research-based strategies to meet those challenges with confidence.

Strengthen relationships. Build a positive classroom culture. Increase student engagement. Help students grow not only academically, but as people.

📣 𝗦𝘁. 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻! Registration is open! https://characterplus.org/program/tace/

🌍 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Earlier this summer, Nicole Diehl and Dr. Kristen Pelster represented CharacterPlus at the 52nd annual Association for Moral Education Conference in Madrid, Spain.

Aligned with the theme, “Re-creating the Social Fabric in a Fragmented World,” they shared the 𝟭𝟭 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 as a whole-school approach to character education and sustainable school culture.

We’re proud to connect with educators around the world who are working to build stronger, more supportive school communities.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 are qualities Dolly Parton demonstrated throughout her life. In honor of her memory, we invite you to listen to 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘋𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯: 𝘖𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 and discover how her character helped her make a difference in the lives of others.

Dolly is one of the real-life heroes featured in the 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 exhibit at The Magic House. Her story, along with those of other inspiring heroes from the Ordinary Heroes Change the World book series, is part of the 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 gallery, developed by CharacterPlus in partnership with The Magic House to encourage character conversations at home.

Listen to the Dolly Parton read-aloud and explore the Heroes at Home gallery > https://loom.ly/rmeDd4I

The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum

📢 Registration is now open for the 2026-27 Teacher Academy in Character Education (TACE) in St. Louis AND Kansas City!

TACE is a year-long academy equipping teacher leaders with evidence-based practices to strengthen character, purpose, and academic success in their classrooms.

Are you ready to connect with fellow educators, learn from award-winning practitioners, and grow as a character leader? If so, this is your opportunity.

👉 Register now and join a tradition of excellence in character education! https://characterplus.org/program/tace/

CharacterPlus recently joined nearly 700 educators and leaders at the Harmony Public Schools Leadership Summit in Houston, Texas.

Under the theme 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚, 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩, the summit focused on leadership, student success, and building strong school culture and climate.

CharacterPlus facilitated sessions exploring motivation, belonging and trust, effective communication, and how leaders can strengthen their own leadership while empowering others.

Interested in building a stronger culture of character in your school or district? Connect with the CharacterPlus Programming team to explore how we can create a plan tailored to your goals and needs.
📧 https://characterplus.org/contact/

Harmony Public Schools

Please join us in welcoming Nicole Bassett to CharacterPlus as our new Finance Manager!

With more than 20 years of accounting experience, including most recently serving as CFO of a St. Louis-based private company, Nicole brings a wealth of financial expertise to our team.

She loves to travel, listen to jazz and support education and children. We’re excited (or dare we say 'jazzed'?) to have her on the team! 🎷

Welcome Nicole!

This month, Orchard Farm School District’s emerging leaders gathered for Session 3 of cLEAD, focusing on what it takes to create the conditions for flourishing.

Participants explored the power of belonging, the role of trust in effective leadership, and how empathy helps us connect with others more deeply. Through reflection, conversation, and hands-on experiences, they gained fresh insight into themselves and their teams.

A great reminder that 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Orchard Farm School District