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Tangipahoa Parish: Doubling Usage, Boosting Adult Wellbeing, and Driving Student Impact

by CharacterStrong on
District Spotlight

In Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, the district has seen remarkable growth in character development initiatives across its 32 schools. Over the past four years, intentional planning and persistent implementation have allowed teachers and leaders to fully integrate the program into daily routines.

In this episode of The CharacterStrong Podcast, host John Norlin sits down with Amy Fairchild and Crystal Hooper, district coaches in Tangipahoa Parish, to discuss how they’ve built momentum and sustained meaningful implementation across their schools. Listen below to hear their conversation.

Tangipahoa Parish District Podcast
21:05

 

Key highlights from the district’s journey:

  • Tier One usage has doubled since last year, showing strong adoption across campuses.

  • Adult wellbeing improved, according to culture and climate surveys, demonstrating the program’s positive impact on staff.

  • Teachers are using lessons, activities, and songs daily, weaving character development into the fabric of every school day.

  • Schools are seeing direct benefits for students, including increased engagement, reduced behavioral referrals, and improved attendance.

  • Principals and teachers report that the program has become a key tool for classroom management, with one educator calling it “my behavior management plan.”

  • Competitive and collaborative school environments have emerged, with staff sharing strategies and supporting one another in implementation.

 

Tangi -2

One powerful moment came during a district conference: a principal, previously struggling with discipline, implemented the strategies shared and immediately saw a shift in her school’s culture. This example illustrates how persistent focus, guidance, and support can create meaningful change.

Advice for other districts:

  • Be patient, change takes time, and consistent effort over years produces results.

  • Stay consistent, even when barriers arise.

  • Let data guide the work, tracking usage and outcomes helps identify gaps and celebrate successes.

  • Provide teachers with flexibility to make lessons their own, while maintaining core expectations.

By prioritizing intentional implementation, Tangipahoa Parish is creating an environment where educators feel supported, students thrive, and school culture improves, showing that sustained effort and data-informed strategies can produce real impact.

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