Arizona Republic

Veritas Preparatory Academy, a Phoenix charter school near 24th Street and Lincoln Drive, is one of a dozen schools profiled in a new book, On Purpose: How Great School Cultures Form Strong Character, by education leader and author Samuel Casey Carter.

In the book, Carter writes that schools that nurture students, have high expectations and focus on character development dramatically increase achievement.

Andrew Ellison, founding principal of the sixth through 12th grade college prep school, said unlike the movie Waiting for Superman, Carter’s book focuses on what the 12 profiled schools are doing right.

“His research indicates that schools that do a good job molding ethical, moral behavior don’t preach about values all the time,” Ellison said. “He writes that they shut up and live them . . . We don’t preach or talk about character, we model it in the classroom and our teachers expect it from students in the classroom.”

Greyhawk Elementary School in Scottsdale is also in the book, which profiles five traditional public schools, three public magnet schools, two public charter schools and two private schools.

DESTINATION PROGRAM

Two years ago Carter visited Great Hearts Academies, the parent company that oversees Veritas and its sister college prep charter schools.

Ellison said since Carter’s visit, the program has grown. Enrollment is by lottery. And unlike other secondary-grade charter schools, Great Hearts Academies schools offer athletics.

Depending on the grade and the school, 60 to 90 percent of the student body participates in a team sport.

Information: greatheartsaz.org.

CREATING COMMUNITY

Dan Scoggin, CEO of Great Hearts Academies, said Carter correctly identified the schools’ culture – the loving environment, relationships between students and faculty – as a source of student success.

“It’s really the school culture where true learning begins,” Scoggin said. “It’s the relationships. That’s the real purpose. To create a great community. Great members of society.”

SOCRATIC METHOD

Scoggin, a former English teacher and principal at a Great Hearts Academies school, said the curriculum is taught by asking questions.

“We’re facilitating an intense dialogue between students and the teachers in pursuit of the truth,” Scoggin said. “What is the author trying to say? What is beauty? Virtue? It’s a conversation. We’re all trying to find out the truth.”

This article was originally published on The Arizona Republic.