FULTON SCIENCE ACADEMY HAS BEEN NAMED A 2022 STATE SCHOOL OF CHARACTER

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

While we are a place for learning, the learning that takes place at FSA goes beyond academics. FSA has put an emphasis on character education and social-emotional learning to help develop our students into the leaders of tomorrow.

Accordingly, today, we are very proud to share a school recognition that highlights our dedication to more than academics. It is with great pleasure that we share that after four years of rigorous preparation and application process, Fulton Science Academy has been awarded the honor of being recognized as a Georgia State School of Character becoming the only school recognized with this distinction in Georgia and one of the 67 schools in the nation this year.

Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Character.org’s President, said, “Each of these schools and districts have put into place a comprehensive initiative that equips and empowers their staff to reinforce and model a range of positive core values that will shape and form the hearts, minds, and choices of their students.”

The School of Character designation is awarded by Character.org, the nonprofit organization that validates character initiatives in schools and communities around the world. This process required an in-depth application sharing the practices within our school community to develop and refine a caring school culture. In order to improve our own efforts towards aligning with the 11 Principles Framework for Schools, we redefined our core values.

Our school’s Core Values, ICARE (Integrity. Curiosity. Advocacy. Resiliency. Empathy.) are now the “beating heart” of our school community and guide our school life. These values will help our students in the classroom and beyond at school, at home, and within their current and future communities.

Director of Schools of Character, Mrs. Lori Soifer, said, “State School of Character designation is not easy to obtain. Your team should be proud of your accomplishment and your commitment to creating a culture of character in your school community. We thank each of you for continuing to care for your students, staff, and school communities with grace, kindness, and character!”

FSA believes in the importance of addressing all aspects of school life to provide a successful character education program. Additionally, FSA also dedicates a daily period known as IMPACT (Intentionally Making Positive Actions Count Together) and College Prep time for students to receive lessons to support their growth. We support our character initiative using the curriculums from Caring School Communities and Stanford University’s Project Wayfinder.

Congratulations to our wonderful students, parents, and faculty members for this exceptional recognition! Way to go, FSA!

As the next step in the process, FSA will continue on to the national certification level. Wish us luck as we continue to this next step in hopes of becoming a National School of Character.

To learn more about the schools chosen today and those in the midst of their 5- year certification as State Schools of Character, please visit Character.org. Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character which includes providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership, and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort

ABOUT CHARACTER.ORG: Character.org is a worldwide network that empowers people of all ages to practice and model the ethical core values that shape our hearts, minds and choices. Formerly known as the Character Education Partnership, the organization has relentlessly advocated for character since 1993. Today, Character.org creates and shares resources that support people around the globe, including the 11 Principles Framework for Schools: A Guide to Cultivating a Culture of Character. The organization’s vision is to be the global leader and voice for developing character in families, schools, and organizations.