Character Education Conference Focuses on Improving School Culture

May 17, 2017

Alverno College will host the 13th annual Character Education Conference on June 20. This year's theme is True Colors of Character, and the focus will be on social justice, citizenship, community, empathy and respect.

The opening keynote will be given by Thomas R. Hoerr, Emeritus Head of School of New City School in St. Louis. He currently teaches at the University of Missouri - St. Louis and holds a PhD from Washington University in St. Louis. Hoerr has written four books including “The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy, and Other Success Skills Every Student Needs,” which shows educators how to foster the skills that today's students need: empathy, self-control, integrity, embracing diversity, and grit.

LeRoy Butler, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer and community activist, will deliver a keynote address over lunch. In a grass roots effort, his “Butler vs. Bullying” campaign aims to bring professionals, teachers and parents together to discuss the social problems that come from bullying. Over the past year, Butler has traveled to schools and churches across Wisconsin to talk with victims of bullying, as well as those who have been the bully. His hope is to bring awareness to the issue, to allow both sides a safe place to openly discuss the problems at hand, and to find a positive resolution.

The 13th annual character education conference will include breakout sessions led by national and local experts in the field. Some of the topics covered include using play to build character, mindfulness in the classroom, respect and responsibility, character based discipline, and stirring student passion through social justice and service learning. School administrators, counselors, K-12 teachers, pupil services professionals, coaches, school board members, parents and community leaders are encouraged to register. The conference is sponsored by the School District of South Milwaukee in partnership with Alverno College and the Wisconsin Character Education Partnership (WCEP). The School District of South Milwaukee has been recognized as a National School District of Character by WCEP. For more information or to register, please visit www.alverno.edu/characterconference.

Alverno will also offer pre-conference workshops on June 19. The workshops will focus on mindfulness and character education training, designed to help school teams incorporate character education into their curriculum. For more information on the pre-conference workshops or to register, please visit https://www.alverno.edu/characterconference/pre-conference-workshops.php.