A new program called ‘Character Strong’ has entered the classrooms of Wadsworth High School with the start of the 2024- 2025 school year.
It will be taught once a month during student’s academic labs. The lessons are usually thirty minutes in length. The program allows for an extension or conclusion of the lesson after the main points have been covered.

Students will have the opportunity to interact with their peers through games and group exercises. Character Strong teaches different life lessons, such as empathy, value and purpose.
Character Strong also teaches the “Eight Essentials,” which consist of patience, kindness, humility, respect, selflessness, forgiveness, commitment and honesty.
“We looked at a variety of different programs in order to best meet the needs of our students, and we felt that Character Strong was definitely the strongest,” said Eric Jackson, the Director of Instruction and Personal Development for the Wadsworth District.
There used to be another growth mindset program at the Central Intermediate School and Wadsworth Middle School called “7 Mindsets.” Character Strong is the new replacement.
Character Strong is not new to the Wadsworth District. It has been implemented in grades K-8. WHS is the last one to adopt the program.
“We were looking at self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision making,” Jackson said. “So, there were five components that were looking at to help support students.”
Character Strong met these components. It opens the door for communication between student and teacher, students and students, and all-around comfortability.
“We need to work on more than just academics and Character Strong is one of those avenues that we are going to be working on more than just academics,” said Allison Romano, Assistant Principal at Wadsworth High School.
Character Strong is meant to be a breakthrough for Wadsworth. It is to teach students to better themselves and to feel supported and educated outside of academics.
“I think my biggest takeaway would be that students feel supported in where they are physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, any of the things they need supported in or need coming to school each and every day,” Jackson said.
Along with Jackson, Romano also has hope that this program will change students for the better.
Character Strong is meant to be a breakthrough for Wadsworth. It is to teach students to better themselves and to feel supported and educated outside of academics.
“I think my biggest takeaway would be that students feel supported in where they are physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, any of the things they need supported in or need coming to school each and every day, “ Jackson said.
Along with Jackson, Romano also has hope that this program will change students for the better.