Character Education is a vehicle to
assist schools in accomplishing the
SLCSD’s Vision and Mission.
Vision - SLCSD sets the standard for excellence in
education.
Mission – SLCSD advocates for all students,
provides the highest quality education, and
prepares students for a future of opportunities.
Schools with character education
are Ethical Learning Communities
that focus on:
Excellence
Ethics
Engagement
Excellence/ performance character
Diligence
A strong work ethic
A positive attitude
Perseverance
The work of excellence is transformational. Once a
student sees that he or she is capable of excellence, that
student is never quite the same. There is a new selfimage, a new notion of possibility. After students have
had a taste of excellence, they’re never quite satisfied
with less.
Ron Berger, An Ethic of Excellence
Excellence
Performance Character
A mastery
orientation that
consists of the following
qualities.
Effort, Diligence
Perseverance
Work ethic, ingenuity
Self-discipline, attitude
Needed to realize
one's potential for
excellence in academics,
co-curricular activities,
The workplace or any
other area of
endeavor.
Ethics/ Moral Character
Integrity
Respect
Cooperation
Justice
Responsibility
The good-to-great companies place greater
weight on character attributes than on specific
educational background, practical skills,
specialized knowledge, or work experience.
Jim Collins, Good to Great
Ethics
Moral Character
A relational
orientation that
consists of the following
qualities.
Integrity
Justice
Caring
Respect
Needed for
successful interpersonal relationships
and ethical behavior.
Ensures that
we use ethical means
to achieve our
performance goals.
Engagement
To take part
To participate
To be committed to
one’s own education,
school and community.
As educators what strategies are we using and can
we use to encourage student engagement?
Engagement
Action
orientation that
consists of the following
qualities.
Committment,
Involvement
Work ethic,
Participation
Engagement is putting
Excellence and Ethics
to work.
It brings with it a promise
to be present, to take part,
and to commit to doing
the right thing.
Eight Strengths of Character
Lifelong learner and critical thinker
Diligent and capable performer
Socially and emotionally skilled person
Ethical thinker
Respectful and responsible moral agent
Self-disciplined person who pursues a healthy
lifestyle
Contributing community member and
democratic citizen
A person engaged in crafting a life of noble
purpose
Eight Strengths of Character
 Performance character and moral
character are defined in terms of 8
strengths of character, which, taken
together, offer a vision of human
flourishing over a lifetime.
1. Lifelong learner and critical
thinker
 Strives to acquire the knowledge that
makes for an educated person
 Approaches learning as a life-long process
 Takes seriously the perspectives of others
 Seeks expert opinion and credible
evidence
 Demonstrates critical thinking
 Demonstrates willingness to
admit error and modify thinking.
2. Diligent and capable performer
 Demonstrates commitment to giving
personal best performance in all areas
 Shows initiative and self-discipline
 Sets personal goals and assesses
progress
 Perseveres in the face of difficulty
 Knows standards of quality and
creates high-quality products;
takes pride in work
3. Socially and emotionally
skilled person
 Healthy self-confidence and a positive
attitude
 Has positive interpersonal relationships
 Is able to work with others and resolve
conflicts
 “Care-frontation”
 Communicates effectively
 Demonstrates emotional
intelligence, including self-knowledge
4. Principled ethical thinker

Possesses moral discernment—including
good judgment, moral reasoning and ethical
wisdom.

Has a well-formed conscience—
including a sense of obligation to
do the right thing.

Possesses the moral competence, or “knowhow,” needed to translate moral
discernment, conscience, and identity into
effective moral behavior.
5. Respectful and responsible moral agent,
committed to consistent moral action
Respects the rights and dignity of all persons.
Understands that respect includes the right of
conscience to disagree respectfully with others’
beliefs or behaviors.
Possesses a strong sense of personal efficacy and
responsibility to do what’s right.
Translates ethical awareness into action.
Accepts responsibility for setting a good
example and being a positive influence.
Develops and exercises capacity for
intellectual and social/moral leadership.
6. Self-disciplined person who
pursues a healthy lifestyle
 Demonstrates self-control across a wide
range of situations
 Pursues physical, emotional, and mental
health
 Makes responsible personal choices
that contribute to positive
self-development, a wholesome
lifestyle, and a positive future.
7. Contributing community
member and democratic citizen
 Participates in democratic processes to
improve classroom/school/community
 Demonstrates the skills needed for civic
action in a democracy
 Demonstrates global awareness and a
sense of responsibility to humanity
8. Spiritual person—appreciative of transcendent
values, engaged with existential questions, and
involved in crafting a life of noble purpose.
Considers existential questions
 What is the meaning of life? What is happiness?
 Cultivates an appreciation of transcendent
values such as truth, beauty, and goodness.
 Pursues authentic happiness
The Three E’s to success?
Excellence
Ethics
Engagement