After deciding in 1997 that values were not being sufficiently taught to young people, Tigerton’s public schools joined with local churches and the Shawano County Extention Office of the University of Wisconsin to evaluate character-education programs for possible adoption. CHARACTER COUNTS! was chosen. To prepare for the CC! roll-out, local citizens participated in a two-day training the previous spring and formed a local coalition, which consists of a steering committee and seven standing committees (business, church, civic & service, local government, media, parents, school, senior citizens and youth). Teams of adults and students visit classrooms, preschool to eighth grade, introducing one Pillar a month starting in November and ending in May.