CHARACTER COUNTS MID SHORE, INC
Bright Futures for Youth and Communities
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Character Counts Mid Shore, Inc. is a citizen-driven organization with proven, research-based program outcomes,* including increased academic achievement, decreased rates of poor behavior, and lowered rates of chronic school absenteeism. Our mission is to develop positive character in all aspects of students’ lives in order to prepare youth for productive futures and invest in the ongoing vitality of our local communities. *http://archives.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/FDAE5CA6-979D-48E9-8383-9C1560D40B0B/17821/Growing_Character_Cultivating_Achievement_12_07.pdf
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Winners Walk Tall Program
Today's youth are faced with daunting headlines of violence, substance abuse, erosion of national pride and widespread disrespect. More than ever, they need a positive and reliable person to help them sort through the negative news that has become the order of the day. Academics and rigor are taking first place in the classroom so our trained volunteer Character Coaches step in to provide the necessary essentials that compliments the whole success of the students. Character education lessons based on the Six Pillars of Character - Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship, offers our youth a solid foundation that will last a lifetime. Our program is for all students; not just those identified as "at-risk", because we believe all youth are at-risk of making poor choices. The vitality of our communities is dependent upon building and maintaining strong character.
Laws of Life Essay Contest
Over 1,000 essays from middle and high school students are received during Character Counts Mid Shore’s annual Laws of Life Essay Contest. Each student describes one or more of the Six Pillars of Character that shape their lives. The top contest winner is awarded a $2,500 scholarship (Albert Kennerly Character Counts Award). The over-all school winners receive smaller cash awards.
A. James Clark Character Counts Citizenship Scholarship
Each year Character Counts Mid Shore awards six $1000 A. James Clark Character Counts Citizenship Scholarships to high school graduating seniors in Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester Counties. The scholarship is based on quality of community service.
Where we work
External reviews
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The goals of Character Counts Mid Shore, Inc. are to:
1) Invest in the development of character and relevant, needed soft skills necessary to ensure that students are well prepared for productive adulthood; and
2) Contribute meaningfully to the development of the communities we call home, where character-full citizens of all ages join together to main desirable communities in which to live, work, and play.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
To achieve our goals, Character Counts Mid Shore invests in a variety of programs (listed below) that we believe will deliver our mission in an effective, efficient manner. These programs include:
1) Winners Walk Tall: This program consists of a highly trained and motivated loyal corps of over 165 volunteers who meet individually with full classes of students in grades PreK – 12. We call these volunteers our Character Coaches. While teaching on a weekly or monthly basis in their assigned classrooms, coaches discuss and model ethical issues through relevant, age-appropriate lessons that center on both character and soft skille development. Each Character Coach tailors their lessons to the specific needs of the youth they serve in their assigned classrooms using stories, object lessons, and hands-on activities based on the Six Pillars of Character – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. In addition to instilling the importance of character, our Character Coaches become trusted adults in the lives of the youth they serve. CCMS equips our coaches with annual training and age-appropriate materials, in addition to a monthly newsletter called the “Coach’s Corner,” which is filled with lesson inspiration ideas and classroom strategies.
2) Laws of Life Essay Contest: This essay writing contest for middle and high school students allows youth to meaningfully reflect on the relevance and application of character lessons in their lives. The Laws of Life essay contest is a unique opportunity for students to combine persuasive writing skills, introspective reflection on their personal experiences, and self-expression on the topic of the place of character in their lives. We are grateful for the collaborative partnerships we have developed with the language arts leaders at the middle and high schools we serve, which makes possible the high level of integration this essay contest has within the English Language Arts curricula in the Mid Shore.
In addition to being an opportunity for students, these essays provide CCMS with direct feedback regarding how the youth of the Mid Shore are interacting with and responding to their learnings on the Six Pillars of Character. The essays also provide the teachers with a better understanding of each student as an individual, that may not have been previously verbalized. Each year, over 1,000 essays are submitted and cash prizes are awarded to students and sponsoring teachers with the best essay from each school. A top $2,500 prize is awarded to the student with the best essay.
3) Scholarship Programs: CCMS administers a number of scholarship awards annually, which makes college and career/technical training possible for many students who would otherwise struggle to afford these crucial next steps in their lives. Scholarships include the Albert Kennerly Character Counts Laws of Life Scholarship and the A. James Clark Character Counts Citizenship Scholarships.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Character Counts Mid Shore is uniquely positioned to achieve our mission-driven goals. With over 20 years of program delivery in the area we serve (Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore), CCMS has a proven track record of consistently investing in our communties' youth populations. We have long partnered with each county's Board of Education, as well as the Maryland State Department of Education. In fact, in 2007, the Maryland State Department of Education studied the efficacy of Character Counts Mid Shore's Winners Walk Tall program. According to the report, schools with high fidelity to the implementation of our character education framework "had lower suspension and offender rates, higher attendance and promotion rates, lower dropout rates, and higher math and reading proficiency rates."*
In addition to a long-standing record of public school "buy in" in the Character Counts model of character education, the business communities in the counties we serve have a high level of interest in our programming, as evidenced through both strong financial support and the ongoing allowance for employees to volunteer each week.
* You can read the full report at http://archives.marylandpublicschools.org/NR/rdonlyres/FDAE5CA6-979D-48E9-8383-9C1560D40B0B/17821/Growing_Character_Cultivating_Achievement_12_07.pdf
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
For over 20 years, Character Counts Mid Shore has delivered on its mission. During that time period, CCMS has touched the lives of tens of thousands of students with our message that "character counts, to everyone, everywhere, at all times." Anecdotally, we have hundreds of stories of students who have applied their learnings in significant life moments to the betterment of their lives.
We have been honored to have benefitted from the long-time leadership of Executive Director of Susan Luby. With her retirement in 2019, Character Counts Mid Shore finds itself at a pivotal moment in the life organization under the leadership of the organization's next Executive Director, Lauren Kay Weber. In 2020, CCMS' Board of Directors will engage in a strategic planning process that will engage the voices of as many stakeholders as possible: students, parents, volunteers, educators, community leaders, and more. The resulting outcome will be a five-year plan for the organization.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CHARACTER COUNTS MID SHORE, INC
Board of directorsas of 05/14/2020
Mr. Richard Potter
Salisbury University
Term: 2017 -
Susan Angel
William Q. Allen
David Sherrill
Karen Jensen
Deborah Wooden
Tom Arnold
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes