At Gray Middle School, frequent fights, apathy, and inconsistent leadership were taking a serious toll on students and staff. As one staff member recalled, “It was like fight club… one fight would end, another would break out. That’s what they knew.”
Three principals in three years had left the school struggling with culture, and many students were disengaged — just “in classrooms not doing anything.” CharacterStrong had been introduced previously, but it hadn’t yet been implemented with fidelity.
The school needed a reset: stronger belonging, better behavior, and a foundation for positive student interactions.
Grounding the School in Character and Expectations
This year, the school launched a full, schoolwide approach using CharacterStrong. The first day of school set the tone: a gym assembly with 500 students, introducing the first CharacterStrong lesson.
With the arrival of the new principal, Dr. Stout immediately set a different tone. “In my first meeting, I didn’t talk much about academics. It was about us, how we treat each other and how our school runs,” he said.
From there, he pushed for CharacterStrong lessons in every classroom and grade level, reinforcing belonging and community across the school.
“We were honest with the kids,” Dr. Stout shared. “There’s been a lot of fighting. We have students who don’t feel like they belong here. We want to bring belonging back into the building.”
Quick Measurable Change
By mid-November, the school began to see dramatic improvements:
Average red flags per grade dropped from 25 to 2
Annual fights dropped from 100 to about 5
“I did not expect it. I thought I would be working on this thing for at least a couple years. Before Christmas break, the school had turned,” Dr. Stout shared.
Students were engaging in calmer, more proactive problem-solving, learning a larger vocabulary for expressing their needs, and showing kindness toward peers. One student reflected:
“Last year I struggled a lot, got suspended. This year, with the new principal, I switched it up. I haven’t gotten into trouble. He just makes the school so great.”
Building a Crown Jewel
The principal describes his vision:
From the very first two days, students understood that they were capable, valued, and expected to be their best. This foundation of character education has reshaped the school’s culture, creating safer, more supportive classrooms for all students.
High-fidelity implementation of CharacterStrong has proven that when schools focus on belonging, expectations, and proactive character education, students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Want to learn how CharacterStrong can make a different at your school? Book a call with our team here to get started today!