The Mehlville School District announced today — Feb. 9 — that 12 of its schools have been recognized by the Character Education Partnership for their efforts in character education, including Blades, Hagemann, Point and Rogers elementary schools, which were honored with prestigious Missouri School of Character awards this year. Trautwein Elementary became a Missouri School of Character in 2011 and was considered for the CEP’s highest honor this year: a National School of Character.

“Our schools have been ramping up their character education efforts every year, and the programs in place across the District are incredibly worthy of recognition by the Character Education Partnership,” Superintendent Eric Knost stated in a district news release. “The students, staff and community of all of our honored schools should take pride in this achievement.”

The CEP’s 2012 Missouri Schools of Character program also honored Beasley, Bierbaum and Oakville elementary schools, Oakville Middle and Mehlville High with an Honorable Mention, which is the award given prior to the State School of Character distinction.

Forder and Wohlwend Elementary Schools have been named Emerging Future Schools of Character for their character education efforts.

“Our district’s schools continue to earn awards for their character education programs on an annual basis, including Promising Practices Awards in Character Education and Champions of Character Awards. With twice as many of our schools recognized by the CEP this year, the Mehlville School District is on its way to becoming a National District of Character,” Knost stated.

The State Schools of Character program recognizes schools for embedding the CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education into their daily practices. To become a Missouri School of Character, the district’s schools completed an in-depth application process and site visit by the CEP.

For more information about the CEP and its State Schools of Character program, visit

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