Character At Heart

In The News

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Recent Publications

"Character Education Newsletter" is a monthly column in Montgomery Parent's magazine, written by Ann Shoemaker, Director of Training and Support.

December 2007 - The Gift -
November 2007 - It's Too Important -
October 2007 - Left Behind - Ann Shoemaker describes her personal story of her mother's passing and the encouragement in knowing the character skills she trains teachers with will leave behind a lasting inheritance.
September 2007 - How May I Serve You... It's Been My Pleasure - For the last four years, one of the most appreciated and TASTIEST contributions to Character@HEART has come from the generosity of the East Chase Chick-fil-A Owner Operator, Gary Soriano.
August 2007 - Troops-to-Teachers Military Men Making a Difference - Rendell Smith and Mike Lenhart have channeled their devotion and passion to serving their country through the military to serving its children in the classroom
July 2007 - Making the Most of Summer - One Montgomery mom recently decided that this summer would be different for her family. She began using Manners of the Heart at Home to take advantage of the less structured "summer" time to reinforce some valuable life lessons.
June 2007 - Project Heart ©Start for Kindergarteners- At the recommendation of Superintendent John Dilworth, the Montgomery BOE approved funding of $110,000 to be used to provide the character education curriculum, Manners of the Heart, for every K5 classroom.
May 2007 - 2006-2007 Pioneers in character Education - Distinguished education and community leaders are honored for the unique “trails that have been blazed” by their outstanding support of character education.
April 2007 - LAMP Lights the Way! - Loveless Academic Magnet Program's (LAMP) Key Club members team with T.S. Morris 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in an after school program using character curriculum,Building Strong Character for a Lifetime.
March 2007 - Simple Success at Vaughn Road - Vaughn Road Student Council members serve as Pre-teen Mentors and teach Mrs. Gamble's kindergarten class a lesson in manners.
February 2007 - Extreme Makeover - Our society can achieve an "Extreme Makeover" if we begin with the future leaders - our children.
January 2007 - It’s Contagious…and Spreading Fast! - Jeff Davis High and Dannelly Elementary experience an outbreak that all hope will continue to spread!
December 2006 - The Best Gifts are not Always under the Tree - Betty Thomas gives the priceless present of an American flag to Chisholm Elementary.
November 2006 - Celebrating Character Education Week - Facing challenges, persevering, building character, and providing hope for the future was the focus of panel members who shared their hopes and dreams for “a better tomorrow” for their communities and citizens
October 2006 - Perseverance, Character and Hope - Ann Shoemaker shares the story of a polio-stricken boy who never gives up, illustrating the importance of hope and perseverance, which helps develop strong character.
September 2006 - Putting Your Money Where Your Heart Is - Making character education a priority, the Montgomery Board of Education (MBOE) has established it's school system as a pioneer in being the first in the state to provide funding for character development curriculum for elementary school students.
August 2006- Crayons, Classrooms, and Character - Montgomery’s 1^st through 3^rd grade teachers and counselors are attending character education workshops to learn how they can implement Manners of the Heart to teach everyday courtesies, communication skills, and table manners.
July 2006 - Great Grandmother, Great Teacher, Great Team! - Great-grandmother, Louise Russell, supports, encourages, and helps 1st grade teacher, Grace Davis, at Highland Gardens School.
June 2006 - On the Road to Success at Capital Heights Junior High School - Responding to an invitation from Ms. Valencia Staten and her Business Marketing Program students, Col. Conn presents, “Character Crossroads—Choosing Your Road to Success” to six classes and over 140 graduating ninth graders.
May 2006 - Pioneers in Character Education - Distinguished education and community leaders are honored for the unique “trails that have been blazed” by their outstanding support of character education.
April 2006 - Teens are Taking Over in Union Springs - Generous community support from Dixie Electric enables teen mentors to “take over” the teaching of character education in Union Springs, resulting in satisfied classroom teachers and eager young learners.
March 2006 - Daddy’s Signature–The Driving Force - Mike Conn, founder of Character at Heart, remembers why he is motivated to help children build strong character when he finds an old 5th grade report card signed by his absent father.
February 2006 - A History of Giving Brings a Future for Better Living - The Working Woman's Home Association gives to character education, continuing their commitment to improve and impact society by helping one person or one family at a time.
January 2006 - Life in the Rearview Mirror - Character at Heart looks back at the highlights of 2005.

"Character at Heart HIGHLIGHTS" showcases character education programs at local schools and the work of community volunteers. Written by Ann Shoemaker, Director of Training and Support, published by Montgomery Parent's magazine.

April 2007 - Pintlala Elementary's Principal Jeff Camp clearly demonstrates "patriotism" as he is deployed as an overseas video journalist. Ann Shoemaker, Character at Heart's Director of Training recently made a presentation to the Sojourners' Literary Club on the character education curricula, Manners of the Heart (for K-3rd grades) and Building Strong Character for a Lifetime (for 4th-8th grades).
March 2007 - T.S. Morris' counselor, Anita Leige created a family atmosphere for their Home Parent Workshop. Reading Coach, Kimberly Knight brought a "good day" to Davis Elementary when she coordinated the Manners of the Heart Parent Workshop. Respect was key at the Parent Workshop organized by Parent Liaison, Evelyn Moore at Paterson Elementary.
February 2007 - Head Elementary's Student Council under the guidance of faculty advisor, Mrs. Grindle Spencer, have found the perfect service project teaching kindergarteners lessons on character, manners, and etiquette. Key Club members from LAMP serve as Teen Mentors to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders from T.S.Morris Elementary after-school care program. Dannelly teacher, Ronnie Doughty teaches his 2nd graders table manners using Manners of the Heart curriculum.
January 2007 - Betty Jiles, Parent Liaison at Highland Gardens, helped Character@Heart staff develop a workshop designed to simultaneously train to children and their parents. Preteen Power Team of manner's mentors receive rave reviews from Mrs. Baker's 2nd graders at Chisholm. Parent Liaison, Vickie Davis at Seth Johnson prepares workshop and brunch for families.
December 2006 - Mike Conn guides Dozier grandparents in lessons on manners, etiquette, and character education. Fitzpatrick Elementary hosts a teacher workshop. Seth Johnson counselor, Valena Agee, organizes a workshop and brunch for school .
November 2006 - Vaughn Road counselor, Curley Sankey, organizes a parent workshop to showcase the school's "soul food". Garrett Elementary Principal Pam Morgan and counselor Becky Frank are thrilled with the diverse group of parents and grandparents who attended a character education parent workshop. Wares Ferry second grade teachers, Kathy Norton and Patricia Howell invite Wilbur, the Wise Old Owl, to initiate their new character development program, Manners of the Heart.
October 2006 - Teens "take over" in Montgomery as Jefferson Davis High School students begin teaching good manners and character lessons to Dannelly Elementary students. Montgomery's teachers just keep going and going as they attend Saturday workshops to receive training and "Manner's of the Heart" curriculum for their students. "Manner's of the Heart" author and speaker, Jill Rigby, launches new book, Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World.
September 2006 - South Montgomery County Academy invites Character@Heart President, Mike Conn, to address their faculty about the importance of the teacher’s role in modeling good manners and appropriate behavior for their pupils. Portia Goss is the newest volunteer in the offices of Character at Heart. East Chase Chick fil-A manager, Gary Soriano and his employees are famous for excellent service and impeccable manners-- they are a natural partner for supporting programs that promote respectful living and character education.
August 2006 - Teacher workshops yield positive comments . . . Thank you so much for giving me the tools to impart the most important lessons every child needs.
July 2006 - Brewbaker Intermediate principal, Deborah Clark, and T.S. Morris Elementary principal, Sophia Johnson, have seen positive results from their character ed. programs.
June 2006 - Mrs. Zara Brown, Counselor at Chisholm Elementary equips students with skills to make wise choices. Linda Jordan-Jackson, Counselor at Union Springs Elementary, arranged for 1^st-3^rd graders to come "fish" for character.
April 2006 - Educators at Dalraida Elementary offer children tools to confront kids who tease and bully. E.D. Nixon Elementary’s counselor, Patricia Fitzpatrick, moves the school’s character education program in a “tasty direction”. Highlighting lessons on table manners, students in grades 3-5 at Bear Exploration Center are receiving character education instruction from some special teachers…each other!
March 2006 - Ruby Goldfield, grandmother of a Garrett Elementary 5^th grader, works to instill character and etiquette in youngsters. Pintlala counselor, Chris Akers, takes advantage of Black History Month to teach her students about prejudice. Seth Johnson Elementary student’s behavior shows incredible improvement . . . suspensions have plummeted with char. ed. program.
February 2006 - Vaughn Road Elementary 5th grade teacher Grace Quantock teaches character development and personal responsibility. Head Elementary Principal Susan Mallett hosts a "Manners of the Heart at Home" workshop for parents, emphasizing the importance of instilling self-respect and respect for others.

Alabama Living Magazine, a publication of Alabama Rural Electric Cooperatives.

September 2006 - Teaching Character - Each year, more than 14,000 Alabama school children are taught essential character-building skills through a program partly sponsored by the state's electric cooperatives.

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