Character Conference

Schedule | Registration Fees | Registration | Hotel Information| 2022 Promising Practices Winners

Registration opens in February.

The 18^th annual Character Education conference sponsored by the School District of South Milwaukee in partnership with Alverno College and the Wisconsin Character Education Partnership (WCEP) will be offered in person at Alverno College in Milwaukee on June 22, 2023. Preconference workshops will be offered virtually on June 21.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore the important role that character education and social emotional learning play in improving school culture and academic achievement. Through keynote presentations, pre-conference workshops, and breakout sessions, participants will interact online with like-minded colleagues to share and learn strategies on how to engage their students and help them develop into ethical citizens.

Who Should Attend the Conference
Teachers	Coaches	Administrators
School Board Members	School Counselors	Parents
Community Leaders	Pupil Services Professionals	PBIS/RtI Coordinators

Opening Keynote Presentation

PRIMED for a Character Development Journey: The Centrality of Developmental Pedagogy

Character development is a life long journey in many ways. Character itself develops slowly throughout an entire lifetime. Mastery of character education is a long journey of professional development. And the transformation of a school to one of character education excellence is a complex multi-year journey. In this session we will address how to educate for the long-term development of character. The D in the PRIMED model stands for Developmental Pedagogy. Developmental Pedagogy is an educational philosophy and practice that is rooted in embracing the fact that what we do every day in schools is contributing to the lifelong journey of each child. For this reason we must use approaches and methods designed for long-term patient impact. This presentation will examine how we do this optimally.

Marvin W. Berkowitz Ph.D. is a McDonnell Professor of Character Education and Co-Director of the Center for Character and Citizenship at UMSL. He directs the Leadership Academy in Character Education. Born in Queens NY, he earned his BA in psychology from the SU NY Buffalo, and his Ph.D. in Life-span Developmental Psychology at Wayne State University. His scholarly focus is in character education and development. He is author of You Can’t Teach Through a Rat: And Other Epiphanies for Educators (2012), Parenting for Good (2005) and more than 100 book chapters, monographs, and journal articles.

His new book PRIMED: 6 Design Principles for Character Education was published in April 2021. He is founding co-editor of the Journal of Character Education. Dr. Berkowitz has received numerous honors, including the Sanford N. McDonnell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Character Education Partnership (2006), the Good Works Award (2010) and the Kuhmerker Career Award (2013) from the Association for Moral Education, and the University of Missouri System’s Thomas Jefferson Professorship (2011).

Luncheon Speaker

Chastity Washington’s comedy career spans twenty-five plus years. It has taken her to colleges and clubs across the country. She is a NBC Diversity Finalist and an HBO Comedy Wings Competition winner. She has been seen on BET, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, and the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest. Recently, Chastity is a regular at the Laugh Factory in Chicago and Comedians You Should Know, a headliner at Zanies Chicago. She has opened for Tommy Davidson, Sommore, David Mann, Charlie Berens and Roy Wood Jr.

When she’s not performing her comedy act, you’ll find her in schools expanding young minds.

Chastity’s teaching experience dates back to 1999. It ranges from Typing, Art, Reading and Physical Education with stops in 7/8 grade to High School English and Head Start. She found all these experiences to be rewarding and funny.

June 21, 2023: Preconference Workshops Online

Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education Training
Presented by Dr. Colin Jacobs and Ringnolda Jofee’ Tremain

Morning Training: 9am - 12pm; Optional Coaching: 1 - 4pm

Character.org’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education training is customized to help school teams learn how to move the character education initiative forward in their schools and identify major areas for planning. The program's principles create a framework that incorporates all aspects of school programming with a focus on embedding character education throughout the curriculum and culture of the school. This training encourages teams to reflect on the needs of their individual schools as they relate to the Eleven Principles Framework. It is beneficial for schools that are just getting started as well as for schools that are looking to enhance existing programs.

The afternoon includes time for teams to receive coaching, feedback, and time for action planning. This time will benefit both schools beginning their character journey and those wanting to take their next steps.

Optimal growth and planning result when school teams, including the building principal, work together throughout the day. School teams often include the character education committee and/or teacher leaders from across grade levels and curricular areas. This training will provide a solid foundation for your conference experience.

Restorative Practices; 1 - 4pm
Presented by Dr. Tina Owen-Moore, Superintendent of the School Distict of Cudahy

June 22, 2023: Conference Schedule

8:00 am	Registration/Resource Fair Opens
8:30 am	Welcome
8:45 am	Keynote Presentation by Dr. Marvin Berkowitz
10:15 am	Breakout Session 1
11:30 am	Lunch/Resource Fair
12:15 pm	Keynote Presentation by Chastity Washington
1:15 pm	Breakout Session 2

2023 Conference Fees

Preconference Workshops Online

Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 30

Standard Fee Registration Deadline: June 18

Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education Institute: June 21

Includes 11 Principles Guidebook

»Institute with Coaching (Full Day 9am - 12pm; 1 - 4pm)

Individual Early Bird Fee: $165

Individual Standard Fee: $179

Group of 3 or more Early Bird Fee: $155/per person

Group of 3 more more Standard Fee: $169/per person

2022 or 2023 Promising Practice Winner: Free

Student Fee: $89

»Institute (Morning 9am - 12pm)

Individual Early Bird Fee: $125

Individual Standard Fee: $139

Group of 3 or more Early Bird Fee: $115/per person

Group of 3 or more Standard Fee: $129/per person

2022 or 2023 Promising Practice Winner: Free

Student Fee: $69

Afternoon Preconference Workshop: June 21 (1 - 4pm)

Restorative Practices

Individual Early Bird Fee: $99

Individual Standard Fee: $125

Group of 3 or more Early Bird Fee: $89/per person

Group of 3 or more Standard Fee: $115/per person

Student Fee: $69

June 22 Conference Fees

Early Bird Fee Registration Deadline: May 30

Standard Fee Registration Deadline: June 18

Individual Early Bird Fee: $235

Individual Standard Fee: $250

Group of 3 or more Early Bird: $225/per person

Group of 3 or more Standard: $239/per person

College/Graduate Student: $89

2022 Promising Practice Winner/Reviewer: Free

2022-2023 LACCS Participant: Free

Presenters: Free

Sponsors: Free

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel up to 3 days in advance of the event in writing, you will receive a 100% refund minus a $25 administrative fee. If you cancel less than 3 days in advance of the event, you will not receive a refund.

Hotel Information

Hampton Inn & Suites Milwaukee/Franklin - This is a Hilton Property

Address: 6901 S. 76th Street
Franklin, Wisconsin, 53132, USA

It is located off Loomis Road, 13 miles from downtown Milwaukee and seven miles from General Mitchell International Airport. Take the team to The Rock Sports Complex across the highway, or go for a shopping spree at Southridge Mall two miles north. Several restaurants are within minutes. There will be a free hot breakfast and WiFi available.

Please click here to reserve your room for the Character Education Conference.

The Group Code is: CEC
Click on the Special Rates box under Select a Rate to enter the code.

Hotel Amenities

Your stay includes

Free hot breakfast
Free parking
Free WiFi
Non-smoking rooms
Indoor pool
Fitness center
Business center

Conference Sponsors

The School District of South Milwaukee

In partnership with Alverno College and WCEP

General Conference Information

If you would like to receive conference updates or be added to our email list, please contact the Assessment and Outreach Center at alverno.outreach@alverno.edu or 414-382-6020.

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