Hilldale and Valley View Named 2020 National Schools of Character

Washington, D.C. — Hilldale Elementary School and Valley View Elementary School were named 2020 National Schools of Character on May 15, 2020. Character.org, is a national advocate and leader for character development in schools and communities. Hilldale and Valley View were 2 of only 84 schools and 7 districts in 15 states that were certified as National Schools of Character.

Hilldale and Valley View are also two of seven schools in the Montville Township Public Schools district. The two Elementary schools join Cedar Hill Elementary, William Mason Elementary, Woodmont Elementary and Robert R. Lazar Middle School as National Schools of Character.

Montville Township Public Schools district was also named a District of Character in 2018.

“We are pleased to announce and celebrate the schools and school districts who have earned this national recognition,” said Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org. “Each of these schools and school districts has put in place a comprehensive approach to help their students understand, care about, and consistently practice the core values that will enable them to flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace, and as citizens.”

Since its inception, the National Schools of Character program has impacted nearly 3 million students, staff, parents, and community members. The schools and school districts who apply must meet the rigorous standards articulated in Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for

Schools. Each school is evaluated by a team of trained educators and includes a site visit to assess how a school’s “shared values” are motivating students to do the right thing.

“These schools and school districts serve as an exemplary model for all schools and districts across the nation,” adds Lori Soifer, who directs the Schools of Character program. “The educators at these schools are inspiring their students to treat all people with respect and dignity. They are teaching their students to be honest and trustworthy, to contribute their time and talents to the common good, and when necessary, to show the courage to stand up for what is right.”

All 84 of the 2020 National Schools of Character, including Hilldale and Valley View Elementary Schools will be recognized by Character.org at the 2021 National Forum to be held in March 2021 in Washington, DC.

“I am extremely proud of Hilldale and Valley View for receiving this outstanding National recognition,” Montville Township Public Schools Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar said. “This achievement represents sustained and integrated dedication and commitment to character education.”

The core values of kindness, ethics, honesty and respect for self and others, are emphasized through character education. These lessons will support and guide students throughout their entire lives.

The complete list of the eighty-four 2020 National Schools of Character is below. To learn more about the schools and school districts that have been certified, please visit www.character.org/schools-ofcharacter

About Character.org: Founded in 1993, Character.org is a non-profit organization based in

Washington, D.C. The Character.org mission is to provide the voice, visibility, and resources for educators to build nurturing and supportive school cultures that focus on core values and character strengths vital to student and school success. Character.org is widely known for its 11 Principles, a comprehensive framework developed by school leaders and character development researchers. During the past 20 years, more than 900 schools and school districts – after an independent and rigorous evaluation process – have been certified a National School of

Character. The vision for Character.org is to expand the work to families, sports, and the workplace. Visit www.character.org to learn more.

2020 National Schools and Districts of Character

**Denotes District of Character

Colombia School of Character - Colegio Nueva Granada, Bogota

ALABAMA

Hartselle Intermediate School, Hartselle

Huntington Place Elementary, Northport

Vestavia Hills Elementary at Cahaba Heights, Vestavia Hills

Walker Elementary School, Northport

ARIZONA

Imagine Bell Canyon, Phoenix imagine Coolidge Elementary, Coolidge

FLORIDA

Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy, Kissimmee

Imagine Schools at South Lake, Clermont

Orlando Science Schools Middle High, Orlando

GEORGIA

Rocky Branch Elementary School, Bogart

ILLINOIS

Forest Park Individual Education School, Joliet

KANSAS

Complete High School Maize, Maize

MICHIGAN

Birmingham Seaholm High School, Birmingham

Wass Elementary, Troy

Wattles Elementary, Troy

MISSOURI

Bayless Junior High School, St. Louis

Brennan Woods Elementary, High Ridge

Brown Elementary School, Florissant

Cambridge Elementary, Belton

Cold Water Elementary, Florissant

Crestview Middle School, Ellisville

Highcroft Ridge Elementary, Parkway School District, Chesterfield

James E. Freer Elementary, Barnhart

Oak Brook Elementary School, Ballwin

Oakville High School, St. Louis

Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield

Parkway West Middle, Chesterfield

Selvidge Middle School, Ballwin

Spoede Elementary School, Ladue School District, St. Louis

**Windsor C-1 School District, Imperial

Windsor High School, Imperial

Wren Hollow Elementary School, Manchester

MONTANA

Loy Elementary, Great Falls

NEW JERSEY

Arthur L. Johnson High School, Clark

Barclay Early Childhood Center, Cherry Hill

Broad Street School, Bridgeton

Camden County Technical School, Gloucester Campus, Sicklerville

Camden County Technical School, Pennsauken Campus, Pennsauken

Catherine A. Dwyer School, Wharton

Central Jersey College Prep, Somerset

Cherry Hill High School West, Cherry Hill

Crescent Elementary School, Waldwick

Dennis B. O'Brien Elementary School, Dover

**Eastern Christian School Association, North Haledon

Grice Middle School, Hamilton

Hilldale Elementary School, Montville Township, Pine Brook

Horace Mann Elementary School, Cherry Hill

Jefferson School, Vauxhall

John E. Dwyer Technology Academy, Elizabeth

Juan Pablo Duarte - Jose Julian Marti, Elizabeth

Kindergarten Success Academy, Roselle

**Lawrence Township Public Schools, Lawrenceville

M. Scott Carpenter Elementary School, Old Bridge

Macopin Middle School, West Milford

Marcus W. Newcomb Middle School, Pemberton

Memorial Elementary School, Old Bridge Township Public Schools, Laurence Harbor

Old Bridge High School, Matawan

**Old Bridge Township Public Schools, Matawan

Oxford Central School, Oxford

Pemberton Township High School, Pemberton

Saint Leo the Great School, Lincroft

Southwood Elementary School, Old Bridge

Thomas Paine Elementary School, Cherry Hill

Valley View School, Montville

Walter M. Schirra Elementary School, Old Bridge

**West Milford Township Public Schools, West Milford

William A. Miller Elementary School, Old Bridge

William F. Halloran School No. 22, Elizabeth

NEW YORK

Harvey Austin Elementary School, Buffalo

Jonas E. Salk Middle School, Levittown Public Schools, Levittown

Mildred E. Strang Middle School, Yorktown Heights

NORTH CAROLINA

Southwest Elementary School, High Point

PENNSYLVANIA

Afton Elementary School Pennsbury School District, Yardley

Bucks County Technical High School, Fairless Hills

Edgewood Elementary School, Pennsbury School District, Yardley

Fallsington Elementary School, Pennsbury School District, Fallsington, PA 19058

M.M. Seylar Elementary School, Perkasie

Oxford Valley Elementary School, Fairless Hills

**Pennsbury School District, Fallsington

Pennwood Middle School, Yardley

Quarry Hill Elementary School, Pennsbury School District, Yardley

William Penn Middle School, Pennsbury School District, Yardley

TEXAS

Clear Brook High School, Friendswood

Fort Settlement Middle School, Sugar Land

Harmony School of Innovation, Fort Worth, Fort Worth

Harmony School of Innovation, Houston, Houston

Mambrino STEAM Academy, Granbury

School of Science and Technology, Alamo, San Antonio

Woodridge Elementary, Alamo Heights ISD, San Antonio

Zwink Elementary, Klein ISD, Klein

VIRGINIA

**Imagine Schools, Vienna