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Celebrating 2026 Promising Practices

Inspiring practices that bring character to life and strengthen cultures of character in schools and organizations. Congratulations to our class of 2026!

 

Character.org Recognizes 290 Promising Practices in Schools and Organizations!

Diana Dodson | Director | Promising Practices

Washington, DC (May 15, 2026) – Character.org, a leading advocate for cultivating character development throughout American society and worldwide, today certified 290 character-centered Promising Practices that have been implemented in schools and organizations.

“We are incredibly proud to recognize the schools and organizations that have developed and implemented Promising Practices,” said Diana Dodson, Director of Promising Practices. “Each of these practices demonstrates meaningful impact while bringing to life the principles that inspire ‘goodness in action’ and cultivate a culture of character in schools and organizations.”

Click below to read the full press release.
Press Release

2026 PROMISING PRACTICES IN ACTION!

Each Promising Practice recognized in 2026 aligns with at least one of Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools. The practices highlighted below offer just a small glimpse into the many inspiring ways schools and organizations are bringing character to life. Stay tuned as we continue adding more featured 2026 Promising Practices to this collection.

ALAMO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio, Texas

The ’09 Tutoring Center

PRINCIPLE 6: Offers a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that encourages all students to develop their character strengths.

Alamo Heights High creates an academic environment where students support one another through peer-led learning and mentorship in the The ’09 Tutoring Center. Open four days a week before school and during lunch, the program provides accessible academic support while fostering collaboration, empathy, and leadership. While entirely student-led, faculty sponsors prepare tutors not only to teach content, but to understand learners through coaching in learning styles, communication strategies, and approaches that build confidence and trust. Through personalized support, encouragement, and professional communication, the program demonstrates how academic excellence and character development can work hand in hand, making it a strong example of Principle 6 in action.

COMSEWOGUE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Port Jefferson Station, New York

Designing the First Experience: A Human-Centered Approach to Family Onboarding

PRINCIPLE 8: Embraces shared leadership as a critical path to deepening its character initiative.

Comsewogue School District’s “Designing the First Experience” practice reimagines family onboarding through a student-led approach that empowers the students as ambassadors of the district’s culture and values. Through the leadership of the Comsewogue C.A.R.E.S. teams, student leaders guide new families through an immersive orientation experience, modeling empathy, leadership, hospitality, and belonging from the very first interaction. Students take ownership in welcoming new families, helping create an immediate sense of connection and trust. This aligns closely with Principle 8 by embracing shared leadership and demonstrating that students are not passive participants in school culture, but active leaders helping shape and sustain it.

CROSS COUNTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Cherry Valley, Arkansas

Creature Conflict Resolution Path

PRINCIPLE 7: Encouraging students to “do the right thing” for intrinsic rather than extrinsic reasons.

Cross County Elementary School developed its “Creature Conflict Resolution Path” to help students view peer conflict and mistakes as meaningful opportunities to practice character in real time. Through a structured, student-friendly restorative dialogue process tied to the school’s core values of self-discipline, courage, integrity, respect, compassion, gratitude, and humility, students learn to approach disagreements through reflection, responsibility, and restorative conversation. This Promising Practice aligns closely with Principle 7 by helping students view conflict and mistakes as opportunities to reflect on core values, repair relationships, and grow in character.

PARKWAY EARLY CHILDHOOD
Ballwin, Missouri

Sunshine for Seniors: Spreading Rays Staff to Students to Seniors

PRINCIPLE 5: Provides students with opportunities to practice and reflect on the character strengths that shape their moral compass.

After receiving feedback following its National School of Character designation, Parkway Early Childhood intentionally strengthened its Principle 5 service-learning efforts by uniquely starting with adults first. During a Professional Development Day, educators and support staff worked together to assemble 100 “Sunshine Bags” and write encouraging notes for a local senior living community, creating a shared experience centered on kindness and connection. Afterward, staff were given planning time, resources, and templates to reflect on how they could bring the experience back to their classrooms in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways. This intentional investment in staff created a ripple effect throughout classrooms and families, inspiring creative, student-driven acts of service that continue spreading “sunshine” across the broader community.

STONYHURST SOUTHVILLE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL – MALARAYAT CAMPUS
Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines

Theater Thursday

PRINCIPLE 4: Creates a caring community where everyone feels they belong.

Reflecting Principle 4’s focus on creating a caring community, Theater Thursday provides all students, from Preschool through Grade 12, with regular opportunities to express themselves, build confidence, and celebrate one another’s talents. Held every Thursday morning before the start of classes, the school community gathers to watch student-led performances that include singing, dancing, poetry, or other creative acts. Each class takes turns hosting and performing, ensuring that every student has opportunities to participate, lead, and encourage one another. Through these shared experiences, students gradually develop confidence, strengthen relationships, and build a strong sense of belonging within the school community.

IMAGINE ANDREWS PUBLIC CHARTER
Joint Base Andrews, Maryland

The Butterfly Effect: Small Donations, Big Change

PRINCIPLE 10: Families and the community are integral partners in the school’s character initiative.

Located on a military base, this school serves many military-connected students, making community support and service especially meaningful to scholars who often experience transitions related to relocation and parental deployment. In partnership with Anchored 4 Life (A4L), an organization that helps students navigate the challenges of military life, scholars planned and led a clothing drive, with donations benefiting an organization founded by a military veteran. The experience empowered scholars to take ownership of a meaningful service project while strengthening empathy, leadership, and a sense of civic responsibility. This Promising Practice reflects Principle 10 by demonstrating how strong school and community partnerships can support those in need.

WHAT IS A PROMISING PRACTICE?

Promising Practices are innovative and effective practices that inspire “goodness in action” while contributing to the field of character development. Each year, Character.org proudly recognizes creative programs, initiatives, and approaches that are making a meaningful impact within schools and organizations.

These practices intentionally promote character, demonstrate positive outcomes, engage multiple stakeholders such as students, staff, caregivers, and community members, and can reflect the core values of the school or organization.

Each Promising Practice also aligns with at least one of Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools. Recognized practices often focus on strengthening relationships, fostering belonging, inspiring acts of service, amplifying student voice and leadership, supporting positive behavior, and building strong partnerships with families and the wider community.

Guide to Apply
2027 Promising Practices Application will open after Labor Day
Application Preview

Testimonials

“Our ‘Character Education Progress Reports,’ a 2023 Recognized Promising Practice at Tracey Magnet School, have allowed us to monitor our students character journey in the same we monitor academic growth.  It has helped our school community to celebrate areas of success and areas in which we, as Character Educators need to increase support, SEL instruction and/or adjust our school-wide expectations.  The report is a tool that students reflect upon to monitor their own Character journey as well.  Families are also a part of the conversation, as our reports go home at report card conferences.  Our Character Education reports also support us in planning PD as a staff to provide our students with the best Character Education experience.”

Kristen Penta

Character Education Coach, Tracy Magnet School, Connecticut

“Receiving a Promising Practice was an incredible honor and it helped to open opportunities to us as we reflected on our multiple character education initiatives. Our Promising Practice, “Putting The I in Teaming With a Different Meaning,” was a validation of how teachers, students, and administrators have worked together to enhance every day teaming in Plainedge Middle School.  In addition, we took advantage of multiple invitations to present our Promising Practice at the National Forum Middle Schools Conference in Washington DC last June, and then again at the New York State Middle Schools Association Conference in Verona, New York.  As a result, it gave us the confidence to successfully apply to become a New York State School of Character.”

Jen Puleo

Assistant Principal, Plainedge Middle School, New York

“When we began our character journey, we knew we had many great initiatives happening on our campus, even if we weren’t yet at the School of Character level. Our first step was applying for a Promising Practice, which got our campus more excited and invested in the process of building a culture of character. Even after achieving NSOC, we continue to apply for a Promising Practice each year to spotlight different teachers, groups, and practices showcasing the depth of our character efforts across our campus and keeping our community invested in this important work.”

Lauren Boyher

School Counselor, Cambridge Elementary, Texas

“Receiving promising practices from Character.org has profoundly impacted Imagine South Vero. These initiatives shaped our character development approach, fostering a sense of purpose and unity. Implementation resulted in a positive impact on student behavior, engagement, and well-being. We’re immensely grateful for Character.org’s support, driving transformative change at Imagine South Vero through the 11 principles.”

Lauren Poirier

Principal, Imagine Schools at South Vero, Florida

“Being part of the 30th anniversary Character.org forum to receive our Promising Practice award was such a wonderful experience. Not only was it so rewarding to be recognized for our Ivanhoe Cadet Program, but it was also an opportunity to be part of a much larger display of so many other schools around the world doing amazing work in character development. Promising Practices is a wonderful initiative to have us all look deeply into our programming in our schools to find the best practices that bring out the best in our young people.”

Fiona Devlin

Deputy Principal/Head of Plenty Campus, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Australia