Troy schools receive national award

Troy School District No. 1 was recently honored with a national award recognizing outstanding character development programs. Troy’s Leadership in Action mentoring program was recognized by Character.org as one of its 2016 Promising Practice honorees.

The Leadership in Action program is a two-tiered mentorship progam that matches high school students with both adult mentors and with younger students at W.F. Morrison Elementary School. The adult mentors help train the high school students to work with the younger students in art, music, structured recess and after-school programs.

Principal Diane Rewerts said the primary focus of the program is for high school students to model positive character traits by building relationships while engaging with the younger students. The adult mentors and high school students work with both younger students and staff to instill the character traits that lie at the heart of the elementary school’s character education program.

Rewerts said the program has resulted in significant improvements in student behavior. Misconduct referrals are down 20 percent and positive office referrals are up 300 percent.

“Having both schools involved in helping one another with leadership and character development opportunities has created an awareness and focus that is continually growing and evolving into a community-wide effort,” she said. “We see the Leadership in Action program as integral to developing responsibility and succeeding as lifelong learners. Students are much more likely to achieve their academic potential if attending school in a caring, supportive environment. This program helps support and enhance such an environment for all students.”