Educating Hearts and Minds: A Comprehensive Character Education Framework

"A great resource for teaching that character matters in furthering the ideals on which this country has been built!"
Carol Russo, Principal, William Lloyd Garrison School
Bronx, NY

"The ′soil′ of our schools has lost a nurturing ingredient that is essential to give life to the ideas and the efforts of educators. That missing nurturing ingredient is the school′s moral mission . . . DeRoche and Williams have written a sound and practical book not only for educators but for anyone interested in learning exactly how schools can navigate these often shoal-filled waters."
Kevin Ryan
From the Foreword, Educating Hearts and Minds, 2^nd Edition

This second edition merges new ideas in character education research with best practices in schools and districts. The authors provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive framework for K-12 administrators, educators, and concerned citizens. It offers easy access to practical and proven methods supported by in-depth rationale.

Highlighted are keys for success in building an effective character education program:

• Six sets of standards for character education
• Six tips for leaders
• Five tips to ensure reaching consensus
• Five classroom expectations
• Strategies for school culture and classroom climate
• Steps for developing a values curriculum
• Co-curricular activities
• Teaching principles
• Staff development and personnel training
• Assessment

The authors propose standards, promising practices, and assessment instruments that can be personalized to fit the needs and interests of any school, student population, school district, or community. A must-have resource for the concerned and committed educator and parent.

Edward F. DeRoche received a BS degree from the University of Maine, an MEd degree from Easter Connecticut State University, and an MA and PhD from the University of Connecticut. He is currently Professor in the School of Education and Codirector of the International Center for Character Education at the University of San Diego.

He has been an elementary and middle school teacher and principal, a public school board member, a member of two private high school boards, and a school of education dean. He is a consultatant, evaluator, author, teacher trainer, and the recipient of several awards. He has published eight books and over 50 articles on educational topics.

Mary M. Williams received her BS degree in elementary education from the State University of New York (SUNY), Plattsburgh, her MS in reading from SUNY, Albany, and her EdD in Educational Leadership: Curriculum, Instruction, and Supervision from Boston University. She has been a K-12 teacher, a reading specialist, a curriculum coordinator, a teacher educator, a staff developer, and a program evaluator.

She was Associate Professor at Pace University in New York and is now Professor of Education at the University of San Diego, where she is also the Cofounder and Codirector of the International Center for Character Education. She is the Cochair of ATE’s National Commission on Character Education.