Eastern Christian School Again Named National School of Character!

Eastern Christian School will be honored in March at the National Virtual Forum hosted by Character.org, a non-profit advocate and leader for character education. After a rigorous application process, EC has been recertified as one of only 7 Districts of Character in the nation, earning the award for a second time in a row.

“Each of these schools and school districts has put in place a comprehensive approach to help their students understand, care about and consistently practice the core values that will enable them to flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace and as citizens,” stated Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org.

The application process was orchestrated by a cross-disciplinary committee consisting of Jesse Wright, Liesl Botbyl, Mary Faber and Donna Holly. Character.org’s philosophy breaks character education down into 11 principles, and the Eastern Christian School team spent months collecting extensive evidence in all 11 categories to demonstrate a consistent and intentional effort in promoting good character. In addition, the school was assigned a national evaluator to determine re-eligibility.

Principles evaluated by Character.org range from promoting core values, to providing students with opportunities for moral action, to fostering a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum. A 2020 Herald article provides a more comprehensive glimpse of all 11 principles and the evidence collected specifically by Eastern Christian School during the application process. (2020 Herald article page 14 & 15).

Wright reveals that creating a culture of character involves “student, faculty and community beyond our walls all contributing to that education. This recognition of character speaks to all of those stakeholder and contributors.”

As a Christian institution under the Lordship of Christ, Eastern Christian School’s standard stretches even higher. “Character Education at Eastern Christian goes well beyond developing students who have strong ethical values in order to do “what is right”.  Our mission and goal involves the development of men and women who can think about their lives and relationships through a Biblical worldview in order to become transformers of the world,” says Liesl Botbyl. 

By: Leah Genuario

Leah Genuario is the Director of Publications & High School Journalism & Yearbook Teacher.

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