1. PILLARS OF CHARACTER
OVERVIEW
J.W. Killam Elementary School
J.W. Killam P.T.O., Inc.
333 Charles Street, Reading, MA 01867
Developed and Facilitated by Linda Snow Dockser 2000-2008
Objectives
• To help children realize that the decisions they make and the little things they do make a difference
• To help children understand that their actions and those of their peers define the Killam and Reading
Community
• To strengthen convictions and behaviors which combat cliques, bullying and gangs by recognizing,
discussing and encouraging positive choices and actions
• To empower and support children in their efforts to make a difference
Details of the Program
1. Six Pillars of Character are our focus – Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and
Citizenship. All grades learn about all Pillars, but each grade level adopts one Pillar that they present at a
School Meeting. Staff & students are invited to wear Pillar tee shirts and buttons at school events.
2. School Meetings are teaching and school-spirit opportunities for the entire school. Each meeting includes
presentations by children. Many honor a “Pillar of our Community,” someone who inspires and empowers
children through example and understanding. Although parents cannot attend these meetings, due to space
and therefore safety constraints, volunteers tape meetings and submit them to RCTV for family and
community viewing.
3. Teacher Liaisons from each grade level work with the principal, staff and PTO Coordinators to address
curriculum, logistical, and socio-emotional challenges addressed by the Pillar Program.
4. Catalysts for Pillar reflection surround children and staff with information, inspiration and motivation, to
make the right choices. School Meetings are an integral part of this process. Throughout the school in
display cases and on bulletin boards, children’s original art and literary works provide character education
resources to look at, think about and discuss. Children’s Quotes read over the intercom give voice to their
interpretation of Pillars and priorities, while historic quotes with photographs reflecting diversity reinforce
that they are not alone in trying to make a difference.
5. The Home-School Connection is essential to the success of the Pillars Program. Seeing parents and
community members actively involved in their school and part of their “caring circle,” children feel both
important and safe. Students learn that many people have their best interests in mind and are available if
they have an idea, a problem or need reassurance.
Together We Can Make A Difference
Trustworthiness Respect Responsibility Fairness Caring Citizenship

2. • Program information and common language is shared among students, staff and parents.
Information is shared with families through parent & group volunteer opportunities, televised School
Meetings & other media coverage, homework & special projects, display cases & bulletin boards, Ed-
line, e-mail and PTO Reports.
• Pillar Talk Book Gatherings are relaxed opportunities to meet with other parents to talk about Pillar
Themes. Books are used as a catalyst for discussions about “Pillars Learning Opportunities” (PiLOs).
Focal books include those being read aloud by different classrooms, as well as those available for
individual reading across the grades.
• Appreciation treats & wish list items for staff are donated on School Meeting days by volunteers as a
thank-you for exemplifying and incorporating the Pillars into the daily curriculum.
6. Resource Binders & Books are available for everyone in classrooms, Media Center, Superintendent’s
Office and Public Library. These Binders facilitate and encourage the incorporation of Pillar concepts into
everyday curriculum.
7. As a complement to the everyday curriculum, the Pillars of Character Program encourages students to:
• Think about and incorporate previous
learning into creative solutions.
• Learn & practice language skills to discuss
& write about problems and potential
solutions.
• Use listening skills to broaden
understanding through the discussion of
different perspectives.
• Support others with tough character
choices.
• Learn from mistakes and be motivated to
make better choices the next time.
• Translate thoughts and feelings into
different curriculum domains such as art,
math, music, physical education, and social
studies.
• Enhance self-esteem and confidence to
empower students to make tough choices
when faced with difficult situations.
Our Pillars Program is a work in progress. It evolves with feedback from both formal evaluation and different
forms of communication. It has flourished through the dedication and teamwork of school staff, students, parents
and community partners. We wholeheartedly welcome parent and community participation.
Our program is based on the “Six Pillars of Character” developed by the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, a
project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. “Character Counts” and the “Six Pillars of Character” are service
marks of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition. For more information, check out the following websites:
www.charactercounts.org and www.josephsoninstitute.org
3/08
Together We Can Make A Difference
Trustworthiness Respect Responsibility Fairness Caring Citizenship

3. J.W. Killam Elementary School
PILLARS OF CHARACTER
HISTORY
J.W. Killam P.T.O., Inc.
333 Charles Street, Reading, MA 01867
The Pillars of Character Program was introduced at the J.W. Killam Elementary School in 1999 by Carla
Pennacchio, Lynne Crawford and Ruth Gosselin. The name of the program was adopted after Mrs. Gosselin, then
Enrichment Chairperson, observed a similar program in the Midwest. She brought home an idea with a related
writing project to involve the children in thinking about character choices. Since then, the program has grown and
flourished.
In 2000, Linda Snow Dockser, parent volunteer and Ph.D. in Education, was asked to develop a whole school, cross-
grade, proactive character education program based on the 6 Pillars which could be easily integrated into each
grades’ daily curriculum. Working closely with Principal Paul Guerrette, Dr. Snow Dockser designed the Pillars
Program to garner staff, parental, and community support and involvement. By adding a Pillars Teacher Liaison
Team, communication and collaboration was streamlined enhancing the implementation, evaluation, and creative
approaches to the program. The initial apprehension felt by teachers when Pillars was first introduced has evolved
into acceptance and more recently enthusiasm to integrate the Pillars into their classroom lessons and School
Meeting Planning. This enthusiasm led to the addition of a seventh School Meeting to sum up the year of Pillar
learning. Over time, in order to clarify that the purpose of the whole school “Assemblies” was for students and staff
to share as opposed to a performance for parents, the Liaison team changed the label for these whole school
gatherings from “Assemblies” to “School Meetings.” There have been other home-school connection opportunities
added as the program has evolved, including the availability of DVD for purchase of the 7 School Meetings in each
year.
A Tolerance Grant from the Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as donations from community organizations and
businesses, enabled the program to build a permanent Pillars Display in the Library Media Center and fund on-going
program enhancements such as a button-making machine, Tee Shirts, staff and parent education, and home-school
connection tools such as “Pillar Talk” Workshops and end of year reminder gifts. Each year, the spontaneous
reflections of 5th
graders in their yearbooks celebrated J.W. Killam’s Pillars of Character Program as an important
dimension of their school experience. In 2006-7, Dr. Snow Dockser worked with an anonymous donor to fund the
visit of Ruby Bridges, Civil Rights Leader, and with Reading Cooperative Bank to enable Ms. Bridges Hall’s
autobiography to be distributed to every student. Another anonymous donor enabled teachers to receive multicultural
books to enhance their teaching of diversity.
In 2007, J.W. Killam School was honored by the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence and invited to present the
Pillars of Character Program at their annual conference. Likewise, a presentation of the Pillars Program was invited
for the district-wide in-service staff development day. These presentations, done by a team of two teachers, the
principal, and parent volunteer coordinator, Dr. Snow Dockser, reflected that the program had evolved and realized
the goal of true collaboration.
Our program is based on the “Six Pillars of Character” developed by the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, a
project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. “Character Counts” and the “Six Pillars of Character” are service
marks of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition. For more information, check out the following websites:
Together We Can Make A Difference
Trustworthiness Respect Responsibility Fairness Caring Citizenship

4. www.charactercounts.org and www.josephsoninstitute.org
Together We Can Make A Difference
Trustworthiness Respect Responsibility Fairness Caring Citizenship