Creating a Culture of Character Summit 2020
The first annual Creating a Culture of Character Summit was held on June 8, 2020. This virtual event was presented by The Hope Institute and Samford University Orlean Beeson School of Education.
Attendees joined from four states and included 250+ educators from the K-12 and the university levels. All were welcomed with greetings from The Hope Institute Executive Director Jodi Newton and Samford University School of Education Dean Anna McEwan.
Keynote speaker Clifton Taulbert shared a message from the heart, detailing his experience growing up in the Mississippi delta and the impactful people who positively affected his childhood and young adult life. He ties each of these people to an essential trait for good character, making up the Eight Habits of the Heart (also the title of Clifton’s bestselling book). He challenges each of us to use our individual relationships to build better communities and to “imagine dreams for your students that they may not have even dreamed for themselves.”
Dr. Quentin Lee, principal of Childersburg High School, presented his own story of growing up and how caring educators shaped his heart and future. Now, as an educator himself, Dr. Lee not only pays forward the kindnesses provided to him, he continues to learn and grow from students and their experiences. He emphasizes the importance of relationships as the foundation for the success of our students. Under Dr. Lee’s leadership and focused on character culture, Childersburg High School won a 2019 Promising Practice award and was recognized as a 2020 Character.org State School of Character honorable mention.
Please enjoy the recorded presentations from Clifton Taulbert and Dr. Quentin Lee below: