Character Counts

You may have seen an excellent program in many of our schools called Character Counts. It’s a wonderful school program that encourages positive behavior in addition to academics. One of the core paradigms of the program is that teaching a child to be a good person is just as important as getting good grades and getting into good a college.
At D&D, we believe in living by the “Six Pillars of Character” as promoted by Character Counts program – that includes our relationship with vendors and suppliers. We also seek out and recruit employees with these same character traits, and we encourage employees to adhere to them in day to day business:
- Trustworthy
- Respectful
- Responsible
- Fair
- Caring
- Good Citizens
When evaluating new suppliers, we think “character” should be a factor in your decision making process. A vendor who is honest and cares, is a critical factor when you are trying to meet important deadlines and deliverables.
TIP: Ask the vendor for customer references to check on these six character traits.
Trustworthiness
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country
Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements
Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others
Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly
Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer
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