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Celebrating Kindness in Education

In a significant celebration of compassion and community spirit, Teach Kindness has announced the first-ever recipients of its Kind School Designation. Across 18 states, 32 elementary and middle schools have demonstrated a profound commitment to fostering kindness as an integral part of their educational culture for the 2025-26 school year. This initiative highlights the ever-growing relationship between a positive school environment and student success, encouraging institutions to adopt kindness as both a standard practice and a pivotal educational element.

Brandi Watts, National Director of Teach Kindness, emphasized the importance of nurturing a school culture where kindness is integral rather than incidental. She noted, "It takes real effort to build a school culture where kindness is the norm, not the exception. These schools are showing that kindness can be taught and practiced alongside academics. We're proud to recognize their work to make it a part of everyday school life."

Research suggests that school climate has a direct impact on student outcomes, with studies from the University of Chicago highlighting that when students feel safe, connected, and supported, their attendance improves significantly. It is this kind of supportive atmosphere that Teach Kindness seeks to promote through its free, research-based resources aimed at building positive school environments centered around kindness.

The initiative, which began in 2017, has reached upwards of 10,000 schools nationwide, often developed in partnership with institutions such as the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Harvard's Making Caring Common project.

Across the 32 designee schools, students have initiated various impactful service projects, demonstrating the practical application of kindness in real-world contexts. Highlights include:

• - Establishing a community pantry to support local families in need.
• - Writing and distributing 800 handwritten notes to residents in local care facilities.
• - Donating over 1,080 pounds of food to support food security.
• - Organizing cross-grade reading partnerships to foster mentorship and collaboration.
• - Conducting sock drives to collect warm clothing for local shelters.

These projects showcase not only a commitment to kindness but also a thriving student-led community spirit that empowers young leaders to effect meaningful change.

The following schools have earned the Kind School designation for this academic year:
California:

• - Saint Francis of Assisi School, Concord
• - Hawthorne Elementary School, San Luis Coastal

Florida:

• - Cooper City Elementary School, Broward County
• - Saint Mark's Episcopal School, Fort Lauderdale
• - Robert Russa Moton Elementary School, Miami-Dade

Georgia:

• - Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Atlanta
• - Howard Middle School, Bibb County
• - Anita White Carson Middle School, Greene County

Illinois:

• - John Fiske Elementary School, Chicago
• - John M. Palmer Elementary School, Chicago

Indiana:

• - H.L. Harshman Middle School, Indianapolis

Iowa:

• - Farnhamville Elementary School, Southeast Valley

Kentucky:

• - Carter Traditional Elementary School, Jefferson County
• - Taylor County Middle School, Taylor County
• - Walton-Verona Elementary School, Walton-Verona

Missouri:

• - Halls Ferry Intermediate School, Ferguson-Florissant
• - Hollister Early Childhood Center, Hollister

New Jersey:

• - Heights Elementary School, Oakland
• - Ocean City Intermediate School, Ocean City

North Carolina:

• - Allen Jay Elementary School, Guilford County

Ohio:

• - Ervin Carlisle Elementary School, Delaware City
• - Berry Intermediate School, Lebanon City

Oklahoma:

• - Sangre Ridge Elementary School, Stillwater

Pennsylvania:

• - EverGreen Elementary School, Western Wayne

South Carolina:

• - Van Wyck Elementary School, Lancaster County

South Dakota:

• - Hawthorne Elementary School, Sioux Falls

Texas:

• - John Doedyns Elementary School, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo
• - Rockdale Intermediate School, Rockdale
• - Earnest O. Woods Intermediate School, Wills Point

Utah:

• - Daybreak School, Jordan
• - Ensign Elementary School, Salt Lake City

Virginia:

• - Mary G. Porter Traditional School, Prince William County

For those interested in learning more about the Kind School Designation or accessing free resources, additional information is available at WeTeachKindness.org.

As Teach Kindness continues to expand its reach, the impact of these schools shows that kindness is not only teachable but essential in creating an environment where all students can thrive and develop holistic life skills. This initiative illuminates the path towards a future where compassion is at the forefront of education.