Recognizing Initiatives For Upstate’s Future Workforce (Our Kids!)

Bell’s Crossing Named National School of Character

Providing children in public school with lessons and skills to lead lives of integrity is a formidable challenge. We are proud to have worked on three unique ethics projects with some area middle and high schools. Another Upstate voice on the matter has been Richard Berger, who several years ago started a Facebook group called Character Matters in Greenville SC! Chiefly through word of mouth, 674 like-minded people in the Upstate have found the group and joined. It provides a forum to share news, good and bad, on the “character front.” Several weeks ago Dick posted the following:

Our heartiest congratulations to Bell’s Crossing Elementary School  in Simpsonville on its selection by the respected Character Education Partnership (CEP) as one of 43 schools named as a 2011 National School of Character (NSOC).


Since 1998, CEP has recognized schools for their outstanding character development of students through its prestigious NSOC program.


On behalf of Character Matters in Greenville SC I would like to add our congratulations to Principal Barbara Barlow, to her staff, to all the teachers and especially to all of the 1250 young people who comprise the student body at Bell’s Crossing. They have demonstrated to all of us here in this community that yes, Character does Matter in Greenville SC!!

We add our congratulations to Bell’s Crossing Elementary School, and to Character Matters in Greenville SC! for caring to share.


It is also interesting to note that Bell's Crossing is a participating school in the Carolina First Center for Excellence, through the Greenville Chamber. The Carolina First Center (CFCE) for Excellence began its continuous quality improvement journey with four pilot schools in Greenville County in August 2002. They are now in nearly 50 scholls throughout the Upstate, inpacting more than 1,500 teachers and 18,000 students. Teaching integrity and ethical judgement is inherent in quality improvement programs like CFCE.

We are glad to recognize Michele Brinn, Executive Director of CFCE as a valued member of our Advisory Board (2009-1012).