The Hope Institute is a 501(c)(3) institution which partners with Samford University’s Orlean Beeson School of Education to help bring best practices for developing good character in students to schools in Alabama. The Hope Leadership Academy consists of six day-long workshops as well as on-site consulting. Topics for sessions include: Purpose, goals, and character growth for school leaders; creating a foundation for character education in schools (core values, norms, mission, vision, create common language); understanding character development (cognitive, emotional, and behavioral); virtues defined and aligned to character development; creating a caring school community (student voice and student / parent engagement); assessment of school culture; and the eleven principles of effective character education. Participants learn from national leaders in character education, concentrate on the culture of the school, design character development plans for their schools, visit schools with character programs already implemented, and network with other school leaders.