Pillars of Character : Northside's Foundation

NISD Communications Department

September 21, 2006

All 6,000 classrooms in Northside ISD have one thing in common: on a wall hangs a poster of the district’s 2006 Pillars of Character, represented by six NISD alumni who embody Caring, Citizenship, Fairness, Responsibility, Respect and Trustworthiness.

In a world dominated by test scores and accountability ratings, the posters emphasize the importance of character education in Northside and remind students that everyone has the potential to be a Pillar of Character.

Northside began implementing the Josephson Institute’s character curriculum in 1998, about the same time the Northside Education Foundation decided to honor outstanding graduates at its annual fundraising gala.

“Kids can learn to grow up to be Tom Yantis, John Cornyn and Haroon Monis easier than Thomas Jefferson because they can meet those people and hear them talk,” said NEF Director Bonnie Ellison, referring to graduates who have been honored as Pillars. “Students get to meet this person who is on that poster so they can easily learn to be an outstanding person themselves.”

Every year, NEF selects NISD graduates to represent each of the six Pillars. Each must make a commitment to visit Northside schools and speak with students.

“Our hope is when we talk about these character traits and have people epitomize those character traits it will make a difference in how these students grow and learn,” said Katie Reed, a member of the Board of Trustees and a founding member of NEF. “When students get to meet them, they are very impressed and the Pillars usually have a good message to deliver to students.”

Teachers weave lessons about the Pillars into classroom activities throughout the year. For example, students might be asked to write a song about responsibility and then sing tune for the next PTA meeting.

“When you have decisions to make, it will make you think ahead,” said Zachary MS sixth grader Justin Raymond. “It makes you think more.”

Haroon Monis, the 2006 Pillar of Citizenship, gets to have an impact on Northside students every day. The 1995 Clark graduate teaches sixth grade English at Rawlinson Middle School. He tells his students the most important thing a person can do is make his voice heard by voting.

Monis, who was born in Afghanistan, knows first-hand the power of democracy. His parents spent 10 years trying to smuggle their family out of a country rife with instability. Ultimately, the family made it to the United States. Monis chronicled his family’s struggles in his published biography, Journey into Paradise from the Hell of Afghanistan.

“I think that’s why I became a teacher, because I want to change the world I live in,” he said.

This year’s Pillars also include: military journalist Col. Renita Foster Menyhert, Jay Class of ’71; college mentor Cliff Dugosh, Holmes Class of ’82; jazz musician Patrick Cornelius, Marshall Class of ’97; television news reporter Karen Grace, Taft Class of ’96; and Ghana volunteer Michelle Ybarra, Clark Class of ’99.

The Pillars serve as the centerpiece of the NEF gala, which raises money to fund innovative and enriching programs for students. So far, NEF has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants.

Pillars can be nominated by anyone in the community either by letter or on NEF’s Web site, http://www.nisd.net/foundation/homepage. All nominees must be a Northside graduate. The deadline to nominate 2007 Pillars is June 1.

For more information, call the NEF office at (210) 397-8559.

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