Character Education Partnership Honors Oregon School Superintendent

Dr. Sheldon Berman named for lifetime achievement in character education

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Character Education Partnership (CEP) has chosen Dr. Sheldon Berman to receive the 2011 Sanford N. McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education.

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He will receive the award Oct. 20 in San Francisco at a special ceremony during the 2011 National Forum on Character Education, before an audience of 800 educators from across the country.

"Dr. Berman has dedicated his entire adult life to education and positive youth development," said President & CEO Joe Mazzola.  "He has made a profound and positive difference at every post he's held during his incredibly impressive career."

Dr. Sheldon H. Berman is featured in the September issue of The School Administrator as one of 10 administrators who have shown courageous leadership. He says that the larger mission of schools "is to give young people the knowledge, skills and attitudes to sustain our democracy and help create a safer, more just and peaceful world." He has focused on that mission throughout his 30-year career.

Dr. Berman assumed the superintendency of the Eugene Public Schools in Eugene, Oregon, on July 1.  He previously served as the superintendent of the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville (KY) for four years and as the superintendent of the Hudson (MA) Public Schools for 14 years.  

As leader of the Jefferson County Public Schools (a district of over 99,000 students), Dr. Berman directed the creation of a new student assignment plan that meets the standards of the U.S. Supreme Court, while sustaining the community's and the district's strong commitment to both diversity and quality. In addition to enhancing academic achievement and reducing dropout rates through numerous instructional and curricular initiatives, he launched a nationally recognized school climate and social and character development program entitled CARE for Kids across JCPS's elementary and middle schools.  As superintendent in Hudson, he initiated innovations in civic education, social-emotional learning, service learning, mathematics and science reform, high school restructuring, teacher evaluation, and computer technology.

He is the author of Children's Social Consciousness and Promising Practices in Teaching Social Responsibility, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on civic education, character education, service-learning, virtual education, and education reform. Dr. Berman serves on the Boards of Directors of the Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR), the Education Commission of the States' National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC), and the Muhammad Ali Center.  

About CEP and the Award: Based in the District of Columbia, CEP is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of U.S. organizations and individuals dedicated to helping schools develop people of good character for a just and compassionate society. The Sanford N. McDonnell Award is named in honor of Sanford N. McDonnell, Chairman Emeritus of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation and CEP. This award is CEP's highest honor. For more information, visit www.character.org.

SOURCE Character Education Partnership