During the National Forum on Character Education held in Washington, D.C., Character.org presented the Salk Middle School’s faculty in Levittown with the National School of Character Award and the Best Practice Award.
The National School of Character Award recognized that Salk Middle School demonstrated that character education has had a positive impact on academics, student behavior and school climate. The R.I.S.E Program, an in-house character education program based on the tenets of respect, stands for respect, integrity, safety/staying healthy and empathy, and has evolved over the past decade.
The Best Practice Award recognizes the school’s implementation of the Challenger League, which consists of secondary-level students from the district’s ADA (autistic) program and others with physical disabilities who compete in athletic competitions against districts with a similar program. Jeff Aiello, Levittown Challenger League coordinator, said the league is not only about the competition, but about the community coming together to support these students.
Principal John Zampaglione said Character.org is looking to use Salk’s program to implement into schools across the country.
“We were not looking for the recognition,” he said. “But this has been such a great honor for all of the faculty and students.”
