Character Education is a hot topic around the nation. Friendswood ISD has incorporated character ed in its curriculum since 1987. Westwood Elementary Counselor Barbara Gruener has taken the Character Counts! Program to the next level continuously at Westwood and is known nationwide for her efforts.

Gruener was invited by the National Council for Youth Issues to speak at the 10th Annual Tennessee Healthy Choices Conference held in Franklin, TN. Her topic was character ed.

She presented two breakout sessions and was offered a third when a colleague from Wisconsin was unable to attend to do his.

“My mom and sister were also able to attend, so that made that extra session extra special,” Gruener said.

The breakout sessions were 1 hour and 15 minutes. Gruener had her attendees move quickly through many activities that she currently supervises at Westwood.