The Foundation for Character Development has named Eagle Rock School the 2010 Colorado State School of Character. The Colorado State Schools of Character Awards event will be held at the Supreme Court Chambers at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver this summer. The vision for the Foundation for Character Development is to provide safe and effective learning environments, where all youth excel academically, socially and physically.
Eagle Rock has progressed to the national competition for the Character Education Partnership (CEP) National Schools of Character awards program. Every year, CEP names approximately 10 public and private schools and districts (K-12) as National Schools of Character (NSOC) to serve as models for effective character education. They receive a grant to share their transformational strategies with others at breakout sessions during CEP`s annual National Forum on Character Education, where CEP honors them at a special awards ceremony. They also serve as mentors to other schools or districts and offer professional development at their home sites.
In addition, their campuses become demonstration sites. CEP helps the National Schools of Character share their stories by highlighting their work on CEP`s Web site and in its annual publication, National Schools of Character: Award Winning Practices.
Head of School Robert Burkhardt explains, “We are honored to be considered for this award. For 16 years, Eagle Rock has strived to build a learning community where students and staff develop the content of their character on a daily basis.”
American Honda Motor Company set out in May 1989 to find opportunities to further its long-term commitment of contributing to society in an area unrelated to the company`s daily business needs. Through careful research, the vision that became Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center was created. That vision was of a school that would intervene in the lives of young people by promoting community, integrity and citizenship. Through relationships with school districts and institutions of higher education, Eagle Rock would offer professional development opportunities to help strengthen other schools locally and nationally. American Honda Education Corporation was founded as a nonprofit corporation in February 1991 and shortly thereafter the head of school was hired. The development of the program began to take shape with the hiring of the directors of curriculum, students and operations and the first group of instructional specialists. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in September 1992.
The first group of students arrived in September 1993 to begin their studies and to participate in the design of the school`s culture and program. The school held its grand opening in September 1994 and celebrated its first graduates in April 1995. Receiving national acclaim and featured in the New York Times, dozens of journals, magazines and other media outlets, Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center continues to critically and successfully intervene in the lives of many young people.
For more information about Eagle Rock School, visit eaglerockschool.org