Mehlville Schools Recognized for Community Service

Four Mehlville School District schools were named a Missouri School of Character by the Character Education Partnership (CEP).

Blades, Hagemann, Point and Rogers Elementary Schools each earned the recognition, while other schools received honorable mention.

“I have a huge interest in character education being embedded in what we teach kids,” said Superintendent Eric Knost. “Some people think we teach math, science, reading and writing, and then they go and they learn character education, while there’s some truth to that, it’s not something separate.”

The CEP also recognized Beasley, Bierbaum and Oakville Elementary, Oakville Middle and Mehlville High School for Honorable Mention. Forder and Wohlwend Elementary Schools were named Emerging Future Schools of Character for their efforts in character education.

Trautwein Elementary School became a Missouri School of Character in 2011 and was considered for a National School of Character this year.

The schools must meet 11 principals of character education and pass an extensive interview and application process. Knost credits the schools’ achievements to their work on , a district-wide service learning program.

“We’ve always had great things going on in the individual buildings but never paid attention to what they’re doing as a district perspective,” Knost said. “We pull all that together in a common initiative for the whole district. Now we have five Schools of Character.”

The superintendent said his ultimate goal is to be a national district of character.