The Crestwood Board of Aldermen recently presented Long Elementary School with a resolution honoring the school’s recent designation as a National School of Character.

Long Elementary is one of just 10 schools nationwide to earn this distinction from the Character Education Partnership, the nation’s leading advocate for quality character education, according to a district news release.

“Character education is not a program but a way of operating,” Long Elementary School Principal Brian McKenney stated in the release. “It transforms how we view ourselves, how we envision education generally, and how we approach our practice. Becoming a National School of Character is a credit to our entire community – teachers, parents and students.

“It’s amazing when people commit to a comprehensive character initiative how it impacts every area of school life,” McKenney added.

National School of Character, or NSOC, awards recognize K–12 schools and districts that provide exemplary comprehensive character education programs that consistently yield positive results in student behavior, citizenship, school climate and academic performance.

For more information about the Character Education Partneship or the NSOC awards program, visit

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