Two Harmony Public Schools campuses have been named nationwide winners of the prestigious National School of Character award by Character.org, a nationwide education advocacy organization.

The rare honor, bestowed to roughly only 80 schools in the country and only eight campuses in Texas, recognized both Harmony School of Innovation-Fort Worth and Harmony School of Innovation-Houston for their multi-year effort to build a sustainable culture of character for their students, staff members, and community members.

“Strong character is foundational to a strong education,” Harmony Public Schools CEO Fatih Ay said. “It informs how students approach and overcome challenges, how staff members work together as a team, and how our entire Harmony community collaborates to create the best school environment possible for our students. 

“We are extremely proud of our schools for receiving the National School of Character designation and of all of our schools across the state who are working each day to make sure good character is at the core of their culture,” Ay said.  

The schools and districts selected as a National School of Character  must meet the rigorous standards articulated in Character.org’s character framework. Each school is evaluated by a team of trained educators and includes a site visit to assess how a school’s “shared values” are motivating students to do the right thing.

“These schools and school districts serve as an exemplary model for all schools and districts across the nation,” adds Lori Soifer, who directs the Schools of Character program. “The educators at these schools are inspiring their students to treat all people with respect and dignity. They are teaching their students to be honest and trustworthy, to contribute their time and talents to the common good, and when necessary, to show the courage to stand up for what is right.”

Harmony was the only school system in Texas to have two campuses named National Schools of Character. Both also were named an official State School of Character by Character.org in January. They also both received “A” Ratings in the most recent Texas Education Agency Accountability Ratings.

Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with campuses serving PreK-Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Greater Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock, Odessa, Bryan, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. Harmony’s curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning,  and college readiness. 

Harmony Public Schools is currently accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year for both students and team members.

About Character.org

Founded in 1993, Character.org is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to provide the voice, visibility, and resources for educators to build nurturing and supportive school cultures that focus on core values and character strengths vital to student and school success. Character.org is widely known for its 11 Principles, a comprehensive framework developed by school leaders and character development researchers. During the past 20 years, more than 900 schools and school districts – after an independent and rigorous evaluation process – have been certified a National School of Character. The vision for Character.org is to expand our work to families, sports, and the workplace. Visit www.character.org to learn more. 

About Harmony Public Schools

Harmony Public Schools are 58 high performing PreK-12 college preparatory charter schools throughout Texas. Harmony blends the highest standards and expectations, with a rigorous math- and science-centered curriculum and dedicated and engaged teachers and families to cultivate excellence and prepare students to succeed in college, careers and life. At Harmony Public Schools, we believe every child can succeed, and we are committed to helping them realize their full potential. To learn more about Harmony Public Schools and our 58 campuses across Texas, please visit: www.harmonytx.org, and follow us on Twitter at @HarmonyEdu and ‘Like’ us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HarmonyTexas.

om/HarmonyTexas.