The Lindbergh School District is the first district in the state to be named a Missouri District of Character.

“We are thrilled to have been selected as the first District of Character for the state of Missouri. It is an affirmation of the good work that is going throughout the district to emphasize character education. We are working hard to educate not only good students, but students who care about others,” Superintendent Jim Sandfort stated in a news release.

Lindbergh’s Character Education program began in 1989. In 1990, a group of students, staff, administrators, civic leaders and community members determined what character traits should be the focus of developing competent citizens and since then has promoted the following traits: respect, responsibility, peace, caring, integrity, courage, patience, service, self-control, goal-setting, honesty and cooperation.

Amy Richards, coordinator for Lindbergh Character Education, stated, “Lindbergh applauds parents as the first character educators in our students’ lives. We cherish our responsibility to partner with parents and the community in enhancing the strong character of our students as they mature. Lindbergh intentionally promotes character education in all curricular and extracurricular activities. Character education is not another facet of our program, rather the true foundation supporting all endeavors of our district.”

The district was visited by Ken Fischer and Bill Porzukowiak as part of the Missouri District of Character Program.

Fischer is employed by the DuPage Regional Office of Education in Illinois and Porzukowiak serves as director of university-school partnerships at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

“The visiting team members had an opportunity to meet and talk with our Board of Education, administrative team, district character education committee, as well as students, parents, and community members from all corners of our district,” Richards explained. “They observed numerous student-led character building activities, like RAD (Reaching Adolescent Drivers) and Character Council meetings at the high school, Character Club activities at the elementary schools, a Character Council puppet show in the Sperreng cafeteria, and buddy activities throughout the district …”

Lindbergh passed the evaluation with flying colors, and because of the designation as a Missouri District of Character, Lindbergh advances to become a semifinalist in the National Schools of Character Awards Program. This program recognizes the outstanding efforts in character education of schools and districts across the nation.

Lindbergh will be recognized at a ceremony at the 13th annual Character Education Conference Friday, July 20. The district also will present a special breakout session at the conference. In October, Lindbergh will share ideas with others at the Character Education Partnership’s 14th National Forum in Arlington, Va.

Richards stated, “This will give us an opportunity not only to showcase character education at Lindbergh, but to light the way for others by sharing our ideas with districts around the state and nation. As in past national and local conferences, students, teachers, parents and administrators join together to present our proactive team approach for successful character education.”

CEP sponsors the School of Character Program that recognized Kennerly Elementary as a 2000 School of Character and the Lindbergh School District Character Education Team, Lindbergh High School, Long Elementary, Sappington Elementary and Truman Elementary Schools with numerous Best-Practice Citations.