The Tennessee Department of Education named Maryville Middle School and the Alvin C. York Institute winners of the 2006 Best Practices in Character Education Merit Award recognizing these schools as models for improving attitudes and behavior within the school.

According to the Department of Education, Maryville Middle School focuses on diversity, launching events and projects to build schoolwide understanding of differences, discrimination and respect. The school reports a 38 percent decline in discipline referrals between January and May 2006 compared to the previous year.

The York Institute in Fentress County uses the six pillars of strength for Character Counts as the foundation of the school's behavior and discipline plan. These principles -- trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship -- are taught and reinforced in English class every year. The school also honors students who model these traits with an annual Dragon Pride Rally.

The above is an excerpt from an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel. Read the full article here.