Emily Bishop, School Counselor, Atkins Elementary
Character Strong is the new social-emotional curriculum adopted this year at Benton Community. Through engaging activities, discussions, and real-life scenarios, Character Strong cultivates a positive school culture where students feel valued, supported, and empowered to make positive choices. At its core, Character Strong aims to foster a sense of community and belonging among students while promoting values such as integrity, compassion, and inclusivity.
Character Strong has been met with enthusiasm among our teachers who recognize the crucial role of social-emotional learning in students' overall development. Benton educators have embraced the curriculum as a means to create a supportive learning environment where students feel safe to express themselves and collaborate with their peers. Teachers often incorporate Character Strong lessons into their daily routines, weaving discussions on empathy, kindness, and resilience into various subjects. As a result, teachers report not only witnessing positive changes in their students' behavior but also feeling fulfilled knowing they are shaping not just academic achievers, but compassionate and resilient individuals.