BASA Member Update 10.12.18

Good morning!

My name is Kathy McFarland, and I am the Deputy Chief Executive at OSBA. OSBA is committed to working with districts and other groups to promote and support research that would benefit Ohio public school students. I’m emailing you today to tell you about a unique opportunity for your district to participate in innovative research on student success. Before taking my current position at OSBA, I was a high school principal. As educators, you and I know that there are many challenges facing students that can significantly affect their achievement in schools. Scientific evidence has shown that character strengths like self-control, curiosity, humility and empathy are critically important to achievement and well-being. Character Lab , a nonprofit organization founded by a scientist (Dr. Angela Duckworth) and two educators (Dominic Randolph, Head of Riverdale Country School and Dave Levin, co-founder of the KIPP schools), was created to research how character strengths can be intentionally cultivated and create new ways to help all students develop character and achieve success. I’m very excited to share with you an opportunity for schools in your district to partner with Character Lab Research Network (CLRN) , a new and growing consortium of innovative schools and expert scientists dedicated to researching ways to help students succeed. CLRN matches schools on the network with leading scientists to develop and test activities that grow character strengths based on each school’s interests and needs. CLRN gathers information about what works and what doesn’t and shares those insights back with schools. OSBA is honored to offer its member districts this opportunity to partner with Character Lab and its Research Network.

If you would like to know more about CLRN and its exciting work, watch this short video .

As a first step to partnership, Character Lab is inviting Ohio school districts to apply to join CLRN . If you think your district has schools that might want to participate in CLRN, please share this information with school board members, building principals and other district leaders. I encourage your district to apply soon.

Please contact me or Jennifer Hardin, OSBA’s Deputy Director of Legal Services, if you have any questions, and thanks for considering this unique opportunity,

Sincerely,

Dr. Kathy McFarland Deputy Chief Executive

Jennifer A. Hardin Deputy Director of Legal Services Ohio School Boards Association 8050 N. High Street, Suite 100 Columbus, OH 43235 Phone: (614) 540-4000 Fax: (614) 540-4100 jhardin@ohioschoolboards.org www.ohioschoolboards.org twitter.com/OHschoolboards

Ohio School Boards Association 8050 N High Street, Suite 100 Columbus, OH 43235 Phone (614) 540-4000 , EXT. 273 FAX: (614) 540-4100 kmcfarland@ohioschoolboards.org

www.ohioschoolboards.org twitter.com/OHschoolboards