The Schools of Character application process is an opportunity for schools and districts to receive thoughtful feedback for growth and excellence in the area of character development. It is also a method of recognizing exemplary schools and districts in the nation. Union Academy is the first charter school in North Carolina to receive this designation and is one of only four school recognized in the state this year. Criteria for the designation are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education, which includes providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership and engaging families and communities as partners in character-building efforts.
"Going through the application process was an eye-opening experience for me. As a proponent of UA's Character Education program, I often find myself focusing on what could be better and not celebrating all of the things we do right. After looking at the 11 Principles, I realized the impact that our Character Education program has had on the entire UA Family and the greater community. Due to our culture, 95% of students return to our school each year and we have a 93% student attendance rate. Last year 98% of our graduates were accepted into college. As a school we give back to the community, with last year's high school students completing over 19,000 service hours, not to mention the many hours served by our students in grades K-8. Community and family engagement is high, best noted in the accumulation of over 24,000 volunteer hours in 2014-15 school year. This is the data that proves that Union Academy is a School of Character," said Kelly Brun, Character Education Counselor.
Character Education has always been at the forefront on Union Academy's mission. When the school was established in 2000 the character education journey began in the founding principles of the charter itself. The charter was developed by parents to create a school that educates the whole child by incorporating community service and eight guiding character traits into a challenging curriculum. Challenge, Character, and Community are Union Academy's core values that guide every aspect of the school. The Character Education program involves parents, staff, students, and community members. Ultimately, the goal is to teach and model character in an effort to create a culture that develops students into good citizens, lifelong learners, and community volunteers. Designation as a North Carolina School of Character indicates that Union Academy is meeting that goal.
According to Kelly Brun, "UA's character education journey will never end. Our goal for modeling character will continue to grow and change just as our school and society change. This designation doesn't mean that we are finished. It means that as a school we are on the right track for educating students to be the best citizens they can be. That is what makes Union Academy a School of Character."
Visit www.character.org to learn more about the Schools of Character program.
