Oakdale Elementary, Northside Middle Named National Schools Of Character

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Oakdale Elementary on Tuesday announced it has been named a 2024 National School of Character.

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Northside Middle School in Tuscaloosa County was also named among the four schools from Alabama selected.

Presented by Character.org, represents the fifth school in the Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) to receive the national honor in the last three years.

TCS says the award recognizes schools that demonstrate a focus on character development and have formed a positive school culture.

“This is a great honor. We are ecstatic,” Oakdale Principal Lucille Prewitt said. “To be a State School of Character was awesome, but the national award means we really worked hard and people are recognizing it.”

Prewitt said she has recently seen a noticeable change in students’ behavior due to Oakdale’s emphasis on character education.

“In the past, we had a lot of conflict and kids didn’t know how to resolve it. They now know how to resolve conflict, and if they know something isn’t the Oakdale way, they don’t do it.” she said. "Oakdale’s character education is also making an impact outside of the school’s walls. “I see a difference even in the home. Parents tell me that students talk about conflict resolution and use those skills at home too.”

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