Town Meetings and Shared Grade-Level Planning
Pierce Elementary School, Birmingham, Mich.
Named a 2011 National School of Character by whole child partner the Character Education Partnership, Pierce Elementary School has made a significant transformation as a result of adopting character education as its focus. The changes have impacted students and staff alike. The administration, along with the leadership of the character education and wellness committees, have all played positive roles in this transformation. The touchstone, Pierce Path, unified the school community with a common language, and projects such as the Family Path (the opportunity for families to create their own touchstone and highlight core values) are universally recognized at the school. Several school-wide events focused on character are held throughout the year, including Spirit Week, Peace Day, and assemblies. The school utilizes "town meetings" by grade level and allows for ample reflection at the student level. The addition of a shared grade-level planning time helped to rejuvenate and inspire teachers and led to formation of an ethical learning community.