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Sign up for the Character Education Updates to stay informed, and visit our Character Education Website for information on legislation, resources, and State Schools of Character.
UPDATE INCLUDES:
SPOTLIGHT ON CHARACTER
- Honoring Excellence: 2025 Schools of Character State Board Recognition
- Student Spotlight: Topsail High School’s Youth Health Advisory Council Leads With Connection
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
- Become a North Carolina School of Character
OPPORTUNITIES & AWARDS
- 11 Principles of Character Education: Building School Cultures Where Every Student Thrives
- Regional Trainings: Jewish Identity & Antisemitism Today
- MLK Day of Service Resources
- Promising Practices in Character Education
- Laws of Life Essay Contest
- Webinars
- Coffee & Character Chats
INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS & RESOURCES
- Greater Good Science Center: Resources for Educators
- On-Demand Professional Learning
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Celebrate Our 2025 State & National Schools of Character!
North Carolina’s 2025 National School of Character, North Shelby School, and 2025 State School of Character, Patriots STEM Elementary were formally recognized at the State Board of Education meeting in December 2025.
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 North Shelby was represented by Paula Stevens, Principal & Sabrina Gold, Teacher
 Patriots STEM Elementary was represented by Dr. Amy Peters, Principal and Melissa Cahall, School Counselor
Student Spotlight: Topsail High School’s Youth Health Advisory Council Leads With Connection
At Topsail High School, student leaders are showing what it truly means to build a caring and connected school community. The Youth Health Advisory Council (YAC) focuses on promoting the health and well-being of the entire student body, with a special emphasis on supporting mental health. This year, they launched a powerful initiative: the “Say Good Morning” campaign, inspired by Sandy Hook Promise’s “Start With Hello.”
Each morning, 4–6 students greet their peers at the school’s main entrances—opening doors, offering warm welcomes, and starting the day with kindness. Clubs and sports teams also sign up to participate weekly, spreading positivity throughout the campus.
And the impact?
A noticeable lift in student morale. Students are feeling more seen, more welcomed, and more connected—before the first bell even rings. Topsail High School’s YAC is a reminder that small, student-led acts of kindness can transform an entire school community. 💛
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Follow Us On Facebook and Instagram
We’re excited to announce that Character Education in North Carolina now has official Facebook and Instagram pages! Follow us for the latest updates on Character Development, Service Learning, Student Leadership, and more:
Help us show that Character Matters in NC! If your school or district is doing something impactful in the areas of character, leadership, or service, we want to hear about it. Send your stories so we can help spotlight the great work happening across the state.
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February Character Challenge: #KindnessMattersNC
🌟 Embrace the spirit of kindness throughout February with our #KindnessMattersNC Challenge! Inspired by the heartwarming stories shared by Steve Hartman, this month-long initiative encourages teachers, leaders, students, and families to engage in daily acts of kindness. Whether integrated into morning meetings and content area classes, each day presents an opportunity for reflection, writing, and fostering a culture of compassion.
📝 Access daily videos and journal prompts to guide your reflections.
🗓️ Mark your calendars! Random Act of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17 every year. We're extending the celebration throughout the month, making February dedicated to spreading kindness.
📸 Share your experiences on social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC! Teachers and leaders are encouraged to spread positivity by showing how kindness has impacted the school or encouraging students to create their own kindness videos—just like Steve Hartman! Educators can submit evidence of school initiatives or student work to NCDPI. Your submissions may be featured on our NCDPI social media, newsletters, and website. Also, be sure to share your experiences on your social media using the hashtag #CharacterMattersNC!
Let's celebrate February with kindness, compassion, and uplifting stories. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity that extends far beyond our classrooms.
#CharacterMattersNC #KindnessMattersNC
 Become a School of Character
The deadline for this year has passed, but it’s the perfect time to begin your journey so you’re ready for next year’s submission. Whether you’re just exploring or ready to grow, the NCDPI Action Plan will guide your team step-by-step.
Get started:
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Make a copy of the NCDPI Action Plan
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Determine your school’s readiness
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Explore NCDPI Resources aligned to the 11 Principles of Character Education.
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Contact Justyn Burgess to schedule a coaching meeting and walk through your application plan.
11 Principles of Character Education Workshop
Building School Cultures Where Every Student Thrives
March 25, 2026 | 9:00-4:00 pm
Harnett County Schools: Gentry Educator Development Center
114 Porter Drive, Erwin, NC 28339
Join NCDPI for a full-day, interactive professional development session designed to help schools learn how to use the 11 Principles to create a culture of character in their classrooms, schools, and districts. This session will introduce a wide range of approaches, strategies, and practices that school leaders can implement immediately to transform their school climate and culture. Whether your school is beginning its journey or seeking to deepen its implementation, this workshop will provide:
- A clear overview of each principle
- Examples from NC Schools of Character
- Practical strategies for improving school culture
- Tools for assessing progress and gathering evidence
- Support for completing the School of Character Application
 With acts of antisemitism on the rise around the nation, students need to feel safe at school. Join NCDPI for a full-day professional learning session to explore Jewish identity, learn about antisemitism today, and discuss ways to ensure all of our students feel safe and included in our schools. Contact Tom Daugherty with any questions.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
The Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. MLK Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable and take action to create the community of Dr. King’s dream.
Use this tipsheet to choose a project. Then, use the Kids in Action Guide (ages 5-12) or the Youth Changing the World Toolkit (ages 13+ and available in English and 8 other languages) to plan your project.
Find MLK Day of Service Project Ideas & Tips from AmeriCorps. (Also, watch the Project Ideas webinar below in the Resources & Trainings section.)
Resources for students and educators from The King Center:
Resources for students and educators from Youth Serve America Center:
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Youth Guide to the Global Goals
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Sparks Tipsheets: Lead an Arts Project, Lead a Sports Project, Lead a Reading Project, and Lead a Nature Project
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Be Fearless Be Kind Project Tipsheets – Environment, Poverty, Hunger, Literacy, Seniors
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Everyday Young Heroes Project Replication Guide Collection
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Issue-Specific Guides: Engaging a New Generation of Anti-Hunger Leaders (Childhood Hunger), We Stand Strong (Disaster Preparedness), Youth in the Driver Seat (Teen Driver Safety), and Health Heroes (Childhood Obesity).
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8 Ways to Stop Hunger
Promising Practices
Promising Practices generally include innovative approaches that promote a particular character strength (or several), engage multiple stakeholders (such as students, staff, caregivers, and community members), and align with the core values of a school or organization. Each Promising Practice must also align with at least one of the 11 Principles. Many of the practices highlight the importance of relationship building, fostering a sense of belonging, promoting service learning, improving behavior, amplifying student voice and leadership, and engaging parents and the community. Deadline is March 22, 2026.
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The Laws of Life Essay Contest
The Laws of Life essay contest encourages elementary, middle, and high school students to reflect and write about a core value that means the most to them – and why. All essay writers will be recognized by Character.org. They will also recognize the most compelling essays and feature them on their website and social media channels.
Submission deadline: May 15, 2026
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Webinar: Bringing Everyday Kindness to Classrooms & Communities
Join us as we launch February’s Character Challenge
February 2, 2026 | 3:00-4:00 PM EST
#KindnessMattersNC is a month-long celebration dedicated to spreading kindness, compassion, and positivity across North Carolina schools and communities. Inspired by the uplifting stories of Steve Hartman, this initiative helps teachers, leaders, students, and families weave kindness into everyday life. Learn how to:
- Integrate daily acts of kindness into morning meetings and content-area classes
- Use daily videos and journal prompts for reflection and writing activities
- Encourage students to create and share kindness stories of their own
☕ Coffee & Character Chats ☕
Community • Character • Connection
January 21, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 (EST).
Once you register, you will receive an email with the meeting link. Join us each month for an informal virtual gathering where educators across North Carolina come together to share stories, reflect, and encourage one another in this work of building character and community.
Whether you bring a cup of coffee, tea, or your favorite morning drink, this is a space to:
💬 Celebrate stories of impact happening in schools
🌱 Share resources, strategies, and ideas
💛 Support one another in sustaining a culture of character
JOIN US — one cup, one chat, one community at a time.
GRANTS
2025 MLK Corridor Community Grants - Deadline: January 25, 2026
Keep America Beautiful will provide grants to support communities in revitalizing, beautifying and transforming areas in and around MLK corridors and neighborhoods (streets, roadways, neighborhoods, community spaces, parks and other areas named after Martin Luther King Jr.) Cash grants will range between $5,000 – $20,000. These grants are open to Keep America Beautiful affiliates, nonprofits, local governments, and other community organizations.
Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants
2026 Application Opens January 22, 2026
In partnership with The Hershey Company and Hershey's Heartwarming Project, YSA will award Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Youth Grants for Youth Service Month & Global Youth Service Day 2026 projects. Youth changemakers-aged 5 to 25-in the U.S. and Canada are eligible to apply for these grants of $250, $500, or $1,000.
UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center:
Resources for Educators
UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center draws on the science of well-being to help educators build kinder, happier schools where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Explore learning opportunities such as the free resource hub, monthly community meetings, a self-paced course, or join a community of practice.
On-Demand Professional Learning
Take advantage of recordings of NCDPI Character Education & Social-Emotional Learning on-demand webinars. Watch these recorded presentations to help you enhance your classroom experience and empower your students to become more empathetic, responsible, and caring citizens. These webinars will help you discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline. Character1 is the password for each On-Demand session.
Character Education
The Power of Choosing Love: Watch an Inspiring conversation with Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Choose Love Movement. After the loss of her son Jesse in the Sandy Hook tragedy, Scarlett turned pain into purpose — spreading a message rooted in three simple, powerful words: Nurturing. Healing. Love. Learn how the Choose Love Formula empowers educators to build stronger, more connected school communities.
Leading With Character : Improve the climate and culture of your school community based on the 11 principles of character education; Gain ideas and resources to improve school climate and culture from a state and national school of character; and understand the impact of character development on teachers, students, and overall school climate and culture
Intrinsic Motivation: Foster intrinsic motivation in students; develop a comprehensive, intentional, and proactive approach to character education at your school
Integrate Social-Emotional Learning in Your Classroom
Self Management: Discover practical strategies to help your students regulate emotions, set goals, and demonstrate self-discipline.
Responsible Decision-Making: Discover strategies to empower your students to think critically, make ethical choices, and contribute positively to society.
Self and Social Awareness: Discover strategies that help students build a deeper understanding of themselves and others while fostering empathy, emotional intelligence, and meaningful social connections.
Relationship Skills: Discover strategies to help your students cultivate strong interpersonal connections, communication skills, and conflict resolution
Would You Like To Learn More About Character Education?
Are you eager to create a culture of character in your classroom, school, and district using the 11 Principles of Character Education? NCDPI has professional learning opportunities to assist your school or district with your character education journey. If your school or district is interested in hosting a Character Education Professional Learning Opportunity, please take a moment to complete this survey to help our NCDPI team understand your needs. Contact Justyn Burgess, State Coordinator for Character Education, if you have questions.
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