Character Education for Educational Leaders (CEEL℠)
The Leadership Academy in Character Education—originally known as LACE®—is the Center for Character and Citizenship’s flagship professional development program for school leaders. Since 1998, the academy has supported school principals and administrators in building schools where character education is deeply embedded in culture, teaching, and leadership.
In 2019, the academy entered a new chapter.
With support from the Kern Family Foundation, the program formally integrated the Cultivating Virtues of Interpersonal Leadership (CViL) framework. This addition strengthened the academy’s focus on servant leadership virtues and on the personal growth and well-being of school leaders.
From that point forward, the Leadership Academy became known as Character Education for Educational Leaders (CEEL℠).
Today, LACE and CEEL refer to the same academy—one program with a shared mission, a strong research base, and an expanded vision for leadership.
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What Is CEEL / LACE?
CEEL / LACE is a year-long, cohort-based professional development experience designed for school leaders who want to:
- Lead schools where character and academics grow together
- Build strong, caring, and ethical school cultures
- Develop as servant leaders, not just instructional leaders
- Create sustainable, school-wide character education efforts
Since its founding, the academy has supported over 1000 school leaders across St. Louis and the Midwest.
What Makes the Academy Unique?
CEEL / LACE combines:
- Leadership for character education (the original LACE focus)
- Servant leadership development through the CViL virtues
- Research-based frameworks and real-world application
- Personal reflection and professional growth
- Collaborative learning with fellow school leaders
This integration allows leaders to grow both externally (how they lead schools) and internally (how they lead themselves and others).
Core Components of the Academy
Participants engage in a rich learning experience that includes:
- A starter library in character education
- Monthly full-day workshops led by national and international experts
- Peer networking within a supportive leadership cohort
- Monthly written reflections with expert feedback
- Development of a site-specific character education plan
- Collaborative planning with school-based teams
- Site visits to nationally recognized Schools of Character
- Presentations by award-winning principals
- Ongoing integration of servant leadership virtues
- An option to earn up to 6 graduate credits
A Record of Impact
The academy has a strong and measurable impact. Many CEEL / LACE graduates lead schools that have earned national recognition through the National Schools of Character program.
Between 2008 and 2021, 104 of the 720 National Schools of Character were located in the greater St. Louis region—and 14% were led by academy graduates.
Why CEEL / LACE Matters
CEEL / LACE reflects the Center for Character and Citizenship’s belief that:
- School culture matters
- Leadership shapes everything
- Character education begins with adult formation
- Servant leadership strengthens both people and systems
By uniting LACE’s long-standing leadership model with the CViL focus on virtues, the academy prepares leaders to build schools where students, educators, and communities can flourish.
Workshop Leaders: Experts in the Field
CEEL / LACE workshops are led by nationally and internationally recognized leaders in character education, school leadership, psychology, and school culture. These experts bring both research-based knowledge and real-world experience to the academy.
Below are some of the professionals who have served as workshop speakers for CEEL / LACE:
- Ron Berger, Northeast Regional Field Director, Expeditionary Learning Schools
- Marvin W. Berkowitz, Founders Professor, Center for Character and Citizenship
- Melinda C. Bier, Co-Director, Center for Character and Citizenship
- Patricia A. Ciccone, School Climate Consultants, LLC
- Charles Elbot, Director of Leadership Training, Denver Public Schools
- Maurice Elias, Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University
- Jo Ann Freiberg, School Climate Consultants, LLC
- Julie Frugo, Head of School, Premier Charter School (St. Louis, MO)
- Avis Glaze, Former Chief Student Achievement Officer, Ontario, Canada
- Amy Johnston, Former National School of Character Principal; Speaker and Consultant; CCC Program Coordinator
- Thomas Lickona, Professor Emeritus of Education, SUNY Cortland
- Clifton Taulbert, President, The Building Community Institute
- Hal Urban, Author and Speaker
- Philip Fitch Vincent, President, Character Development Group
