Four Troy Schools Named State Schools of Character

The Troy School District is proud to announce that Hamilton Elementary School, Smith Middle School, Troy High School, and Wass Elementary School have been designated as 2025 State Schools of Character by Character.org, a national advocate and leader in character education.

Character.org recognized 98 state-level Schools of Character nationwide, including seven from Michigan, for their intentional, proactive, and comprehensive approach to embedding character into every aspect of school life. Schools earning this distinction will now be considered for the prestigious National School of Character designation, the highest honor awarded by Character.org.

Each of these schools submitted detailed applications showcasing their efforts to foster character education within their buildings. Hamilton Elementary School was honored for its commitment to the core values of empathy, integrity, resilience, and responsibility, as well as its dedication to integrating character education into its curriculum and school culture. Notably, the school was commended for its adaptability last year when flooding forced students and staff to relocate to Troy High School.

Reflecting on this achievement, Hamilton Principal David Recker said, “In addition to high academic expectations, our staff diligently embeds character education throughout all aspects of the school day. From Hawk Nest lessons to our Masked Mascot tradition, we prioritize opportunities for our kids to practice empathy, integrity, resiliency, and responsibility. We are so thankful to be honored as a State School of Character!”

Smith Middle School’s application highlighted initiatives such as its WEB peer mentoring program and advisory sessions. Principal Ryan Brinks noted, “We've been working toward becoming a State School of Character for several years. Each year, we continue to refine our programming and introduce new opportunities for our students. Over the past two years, we've implemented our WEB mentorship program and weekly Advisory meetings, which have been key to fostering and maintaining a caring, positive community at Smith.”

Troy High School was recognized for emphasizing character education through programs like its Ethical Dilemmas initiative and extensive service-learning opportunities. Principal Remo Roncone shared, “The dedication, hard work, and countless hours put in by our committee and staff have truly paid off. Being named a 2025 State School of Character is a testament to our commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. This important distinction reflects our focus on character development, ethical behavior, and community engagement. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and will continue to uphold these values in all the work we do at Troy High School.”

Wass Elementary was commended for its inclusive community programming and dedication to creating a caring environment where students grow and thrive through a shared commitment to core values. Principal Kristin Crowe emphasized, “At Wass Elementary, character education is the heartbeat of our school. Our entire community is invested in helping our young learners become amazing humans. We center our work, both academically and socially-emotionally, on our character traits: responsibility, respect, perseverance, integrity, and empathy. We are honored to be recognized as a State School of Character and will continue to prioritize this important work for years to come.”

Since its inception, Character.org’s Schools of Character program has positively impacted over three million students, staff, parents, and community members. The program’s 11 Principles Framework for Schools serves as the foundation for this recognition, emphasizing the importance of creating a caring school community, providing students with opportunities to practice and reflect on their character strengths, and engaging families and communities as partners in character education.

Founded in 1993, Character.org is a global network of educators, researchers, and civic leaders dedicated to empowering individuals to practice and model strong character. Its mission is to lead character development efforts worldwide in families, schools, and organizations. For more information on Character.org and the Schools of Character program, visit https://character.org/schools-of-character-intro/.