vLACE℠ (virtual Leadership Academy in Character Education) was created to ensure that the transformative learning of LACE can reach school leaders everywhere—not only those able to attend the in-person academy in St. Louis.
Produced by the Center for Character and Citizenship at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, with funding from the HTC Educational Foundation, vLACE℠ brings the heart, structure, and rigor of the Leadership Academy in Character Education into schools and districts through a thoughtfully designed blended format.
At its core, vLACE℠ reflects the same belief that guides LACE: strong schools are built by strong leaders, and strong leaders are formed through reflection, relationships, and shared purpose.
vLACE℠ offers participants the same knowledge, experiences, and expectations as the in-person academy, while allowing them to learn alongside their own school teams. With the guidance of a trained facilitator, school leaders engage deeply with character education content and apply it directly to their unique school context.
The program is organized around nine full-day workshops, each delivered through professionally produced video segments featuring expert speakers from the LACE academy. These segments are intentionally structured to invite pause, dialogue, and hands-on activities, creating space for reflection and meaningful collaboration rather than passive viewing.
Learning in vLACE℠ extends well beyond the workshop days. Each month, participants work closely with their school teams to complete a series of integrated assignments that gradually build toward a comprehensive, site-specific character education plan. These assignments help leaders move from ideas to action, always grounded in the realities of their schools.
Throughout the year, participants receive constructive and thoughtful feedback, supporting both accountability and growth. This mentoring process mirrors the in-person academy experience and ensures that learning leads to lasting change.
To support high-quality implementation, vLACE℠ includes a detailed replication manual designed for facilitators. The manual provides clear guidance, structured assignments, and mentoring tools that help facilitators support participants while maintaining fidelity to the academy’s research-based design.
Each participating site receives a complete vLACE℠ kit, which includes nine workshop binders, one for each session. These binders contain all necessary materials, including video discs, speaker biographies, structured opening activities, workshop summaries, worksheets, PowerPoint handouts, facilitator directions, and supplemental resources. Together, these materials create a rich and well-supported learning experience.
vLACE℠ embodies the Center for Character and Citizenship’s commitment to access, quality, and impact. By bringing the LACE experience directly into schools and districts, vLACE℠ supports leaders in building cultures where character education is intentional, leadership is values-driven, and communities are shaped by care, purpose, and integrity.
