Two Clear Creek ISD high schools receive national recognition for character development programs

Two Clear Creek ISD high schools were among less than 200 across the United States to receive recognition from www.character.org for their character development programs, the district announced in a June 15 news release.

Clear Brook and Clear Lake high schools received 2021 Promising Practice designations for “unique, effective and replicable initiatives that inspire ‘goodness in action’ and contribute to the field of character development,” per the district news release. Clear Lake was recognized for several of its campus programs, and Clear Brook received an award for their Art with Heart program.

Students at Clear Brook participate in Art with Heart to create and donate artwork to area hospitals, which is used to decorate patient rooms. The students’ efforts were particularly noteworthy due to the high number of hospitalizations amid the pandemic—especially when those hospitalized patients could not have visitors, Clear Brook Principal Sharon Lopez said in the release.

“This helped add a little brightness in their rooms,” she said in the release. “I am so excited for our students and teachers and grateful for the connection to our community.”

Clear Lake was recognized for four different programs, including Character Court, where the boys’ basketball team spent time conducting activities at elementary campuses. Other award-winning programs include student-led character seminars and a day-long character workshop known as Winter Wonderland, per the release.

“As we continue our character journey, to be recognized for programs that are part of the culture of Clear Lake by organizations not familiar with us is encouraging,” Principal David Drake said in the release. “We know what great things our community does, and to have others recognize what we do validates our journey.”

The campuses are two of 170 total recipients named by www.character.org, a national advocate and leader for character in schools and communities. Recipients all had initiatives in place that align with one or more of the principles in www.character.org's 11 Principles Framework, per the release. Both schools will be celebrated during www.character.org’s 2021 Virtual National Forum in October.

The CCISD Students for Safety—which was initiated and led by Clear Lake students, per the release—were also honored in March for their work to advocate for safety and equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their collaborative efforts on the district’s Safely Reopen Plan guidelines earned them statewide recognition from the Texas School Safety Center and its School Safety Spotlight Program.

Clear Lake’s Assistant Principal Elizabeth Raska also recently received an award from the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, per a district Facebook post.