Ask Shaker High School Psychologist Dr. Michael Gunning (pictured at right) how he feels about being awarded the 2007 Student Services Educator Leadership Award in Character Education. He’ll probably say something like, “I can only take credit for listening to everybody. It has truly been a team effort.”

The modest Gunning was given this prestigious award at the fourth annual Caring Community “Champions of Character” awards banquet on March 21. Each year, the Academy for Character Education at the Sage Colleges honors schools, students, teachers, business leaders and organizations for their leadership in the Capital Region’s character education initiative.

Shaker High School Principal Richard Murphy nominated Gunning because of his role in fostering the Character Promotion Curriculum, which enables students at Shaker to take on a leadership role and address character education issues, such as bullying and harassment.

The program first started after the shooting incident at Columbine High School in Colorado. Gunning initially sat down with students and listened to their issues relating to violence in schools. “I learned a tremendous amount from students, so much, that it turned into a curriculum,” said Gunning.

Now, at the beginning of each year, the entire high school student body attends two informational character workshops. The Character Promotion group then invites genuinely interested students back to continue with the program. Each year, about 25 percent of the student population — grades 9-12 — come back to learn more. The dedicated students attend three advanced sessions and then meet during free periods, or after school, to brainstorm ideas about improving student behaviors and making students feel safe and comfortable in school. They develop plans that are then put into action.

“We help the interested students go through a problem-solving process to develop action plans that they are expected to implement,” said Gunning. “It could be as simple as a student deciding to show support to one or two students. This year, we have a group of students starting a character education activity group that focuses on peer counseling for elementary students.”

The fifth and final session of the program is a symposium where students get to share all of their ideas with the entire group at the school — whether they were able to implement their ideas or not.

“The students have taught me that there’s no quick fix to these issues,” said Gunning. “Even if students don’t go all the way through, they can share their ideas, and maybe they will grow in time.” Each year, the curriculum evolves from ideas presented in past years.

“Students can truly be agents of change when we give them a forum to do so,” said Gunning. “It’s inspiring.”

Congratulations to Gunning and to all of the faculty and staff who participate in the Character Promotion Curriculum, and to the involved students who want to make a change.