Lindbergh Schools and the Mehlville School District were big winners this year of awards presented by the Character Education Partnership.

Lindbergh and Mehlville were two of three districts nationwide to be named 2014 National Districts of Character. Lindbergh Schools first was named a National District of Character in 2008, while this is the first time Mehlville has received this prestigious honor.

Sperreng Middle School also was recognized as a 2014 National School of Character, becoming the sixth Lindbergh school to be honored.

In addition, the Character Education Partnership, or CEP, named the following Mehlville schools as 2014 National Schools of Character: Blades Elementary, Oakville Elementary, Bernard Middle, Buerkle Middle and Oakville Middle. Ten Mehlville schools now have earned National Schools of Character recognition.

Representatives of both school districts recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive their awards at the 21st National Forum on Character Education.

National Districts and Schools of Character are recognized for their growth and excellence in the area of character development, as measured by CEP’s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education framework.

Educators say the importance of character education cannot be underestimated, as it leads to success in both academics and life.

Lindbergh Schools was one of the early proponents of character education, achieving great success under the leadership of Amy Richards, who has served as the district’s character education coordinator since the program’s inception, according to Superintendent Jim Simpson.

Though Mehlville’s heavy involvement in character education doesn’t go back as far as Lindbergh’s, Mehlville has really ramped up its program in recent years under the direction of former Superintendent Eric Knost and Lisa Counts, assistant superintendent-supervision of schools.

And Mehlville’s success is undeniable. In the partnership’s program book for the national honors, it called the Mehlville phenomenon “Missouri Magic” and asked, “What is special about the water in Mehlville?”

We congratulate Lindbergh and Mehlville on their success.

Perhaps Simpson said it best about character education, “Good character shows. Strong character, ethics, they will propel you down the road (to success).”