This project aims to develop a scalable character education leadership program for Mexican public schools. To achieve this goal, it will adapt and integrate three character leadership models previously developed and tested in the US by the Centre for Character and Citizenship at University of Missouri–St. Louis:

1. a video-based program of the Leadership Academy in Character Education (vLACE);
2. the PRIMED model for learning;
3. and the Cultivating Virtue in Leaders program (CViL).

Taking its cue from the servant leadership model—that is, the idea that leaders should serve others—the program will cultivate humility, courage, gratitude, compassion, empowerment, stewardship, and foresight. The target population is five public school leadership teams from Jalisco, Mexico.

The program will include a one-week character education workshop followed by monthly sessions, a curriculum of collaborative reflections with expert feedback, and the design and implementation of a character education initiative in each school financed with a $3,000 grant. At the end of the project, a National Forum on Character Education will be held in Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico. There, the team will present the results of the project and garner support for uptake and integration.

This project is a collaboration between the Panamerican University (Mexico), University of Navarra (Spain) and University of Missouri-St. Louis (USA).