Through public awareness and programming grounded in research, we provide character education and leadership development resources to improve civility and produce meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results in your school, organization, family, and community.
What We Do
The Ray Center helps create strong, vibrant communities that value positive, healthy relationships and respectful behavior.
We provide professional development, assessments, curricular resources, and ongoing consultation that focus on values-based education and best practices in character development.
How We Can Help
Our school-based partners improve academic competencies, social-emotional, character, and leadership skills.
Companies can improve the culture of their organization by applying our research-based programming to their mission, vision, and values.
We’re here to help! Contact us today to
begin working on character and culture.
People impacted by our work.
The number of annual
CHARACTER COUNTS! Week
proclamations by the White House (as of 2021).
The year we were founded.
Every month we send out highlights of our latest free resources. Join our mailing list so you can have those new resources delivered to your inbox.
Way To Go Journals engage students in personal reflection, small group discussions, and whole-group conversations about character and leadership.
The Journals are a must-have resource for any school committed to social and emotional learning (SEL) and character education.
This resource highlights the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship) and success skills like self-discipline, positivity, perseverance, relationship building, expressing emotions, resilience, and problem-solving.
2702 Forest Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
515-271-1910
RayCenter@Drake.edu
© 2022 The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University.