KPCEL
Character. Practical Wisdom. Human Flourishing.
About Us
K–12 education, educational organizations and higher education often operate in silos. To truly transform education, we must build meaningful partnerships that connect research, educator preparation, and real-world practice—aligning our efforts to support the character and flourishing of every student.
KPCEL is a growing community of higher education faculty, scholars, and practitioners dedicated to equipping current and future K-12 leaders with the knowledge, skills, and resources to create learning environments that cultivate character, foster belonging, and promote practical wisdom and human flourishing. Together, we advance a vision of K-12 education that prepares students not only for academic success, but for meaningful lives that contribute to flourishing communities.
VISION
Fostering character development to reimagine education.
MISSION
We empower partnerships among K-12 leaders, educational organizations and colleges of education to bridge research, theory, and practice that advances character development, practical wisdom, and human flourishing.
Begin Your KPCEL Journey
“Culture doesn’t just change because it ought to. It changes because we decide to honestly assess the values, behaviours, and systems that are not working for us—not helping us thrive and flourish as a community—and replace them with ones that do.”
— Diane Kalen-Sukra
Bridging Research, Theory, and Practice
At KPCEL, we believe that transforming education requires more than new policies or technologies—it demands a fundamental commitment to developing character, fostering belonging, and cultivating practical wisdom in educational communities. Rather than operating in silos, we must build meaningful partnerships that connect research, educator and ed leadership preparation, and real-world practice to support the flourishing of every student, educator, and leader.
Understanding Character, Practical Wisdom, & Human Flourishing
Character
Character refers to the moral and ethical qualities that define who we are at our core.
Character isn’t just about following rules—it’s about developing the inner strength and moral compass that guides our decisions when no one is watching.
Practical Wisdom
Practical Wisdom (or phronesis in Aristotelian terms) is the ability to navigate complex real-world situations with good judgment. It’s knowing not just what is right, but when, how, and to what degree to act on that knowledge. It bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and ethical action, helping us make sound decisions in the messy, nuanced situations of everyday life.
Human Flourishing
Human Flourishing encompasses a life of meaning, purpose, and well-being that extends beyond personal happiness to include contributing to the common good.
Drawing from Tyler VanderWeele’s research, human flourishing involves multiple interconnected dimensions: experiencing life satisfaction and positive emotions, maintaining physical and mental health, cultivating meaningful relationships and social connections, developing a sense of purpose and meaning, and embodying character and virtue.
In educational contexts, flourishing means creating environments where students, educators, staff, families, and leaders can develop their full potential while contributing to thriving communities.
Character and practical wisdom are foundational for human flourishing:
Character provides the moral foundation and inner strength needed for authentic living.
Practical Wisdom helps us navigate the complex decisions that arise when living with character in community with others.
Human Flourishing emerges when individuals and communities integrate character and practical wisdom into their daily lives, creating conditions where everyone can experience meaning, develop healthy relationships, contribute their unique gifts, and live with purpose.
In educational settings, this means fostering learning environments where academic growth occurs alongside moral development, social connection, and the cultivation of each person’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to their community and society.
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