Building Character at the KIPP STRIVE Academy with Christy Harris
Please note: We experienced technical difficulties and were not able to record this session, however, future sessions are expected to be recorded.
To download summary notes from the session, please click here.
“Work Hard. Be Nice.” This slogan can be heard throughout 183 KIPP schools across the United States. The Knowledge is Power Program, otherwise known as KIPP, is a non-profit network of college-preparatory, public charter schools serving elementary, middle, and high school students. This slogan sums up the overall belief in the organization that character is just as important as academics. Due to this philosophy, character development is infused throughout KIPP schools across the country. With a focus on character, KIPP students are not only experiencing high academic success, but also tremendous growth in their social, emotional learning. During this session, we will discuss the KIPP model, how character is infused throughout schools, lessons learned, and the impact character development has on student well-being. In addition, we will discuss the important role that educators ‘ character and well-being have on student well-being and student achievement.
More About Christy Harris
Christy Harris, graduate of the University of Georgia (BA-English) and Georgia State University (MA-English), began her career teaching freshman college students at Georgia State when shortly after she realized the need to touch the lives of students much earlier. Therefore, Christy joined Teach for America (2002) teaching middle school English for Atlanta Public Schools. Christy eventually moved to Brooklyn, NY to become a founding teacher and later Dean of Students at Achievement First Crown Heights Middle School.
Excited to return home to Atlanta in 2009 to become the founding Dean at KIPP STRIVE Academy, her path eventually led to becoming the Principal of KIPP STRIVE Academy. Teaching middle school students in Atlanta and Brooklyn exposed Christy not only to the achievement gap, but also to the well-being gap. Christy graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree with the desire to care not only for the intellectual needs of students, but also for their emotional and mental well-being. Christy is a personal and professional advocate of positive psychology and hopes to infuse its principles to improve the well-being of students and educators.
