About Gifts of Character

Gifts of Character aims to give people the awareness, knowledge and skills to call into practice their unique gifts to achieve their goals, improve their relationships, and enhance their satisfaction at work and at home.

About the Virtues Project

The mission of The Virtues Project is to provide empowering strategies that inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life through programs of excellence and simplicity which support people of all ages to cultivate their virtues – the gifts of character.

About Dara Feldman

An award-winning educator, motivating speaker and inspiring author, Dara Feldman works with schools, businesses and communities around the world teaching The Five Strategies of The Virtues Project. Whether speaking to a group of 500 educators, 50 business executives or one-on-one with parents, Dara leads highly interactive and experiential workshops using a variety of accelerated learning techniques. Utilizing powerful tools of The Virtues Project combined with her contagious enthusiasm and courage to transform education she has had a positive impact on thousands of lives across the nation and around the world.

Dara's passion for education began as a young child when her 3rd grade teacher nurtured her through a very difficult time in her life. Dara knew then that her calling was to empower others to know their inherent value and be able to reach their highest potential.

A National Board Certified Teacher, she was honored as Disney's Outstanding Elementary Teacher of the Year and Educator of the Year from the National Association for Self Esteem in 2009. Dara is the author of the forthcoming book, The Heart of Education: Bringing Joy, Meaning and Purpose Back to Teaching and Learning.

Dara is currently the Director of Education, a Master Facilitator and a Board Member for The Virtues Project International. She is also Director of Education for The V Channel whose mission is to engage and inspire young people to dig for a deeper level of personal development and reach for a higher standard of behavior. Using personal stories, mass media headlines and pop culture sensations, The V Channel teaches the What, Why and How of virtues through creative and entertaining videos and blogs.

As a Character Development Coach for Greencastle Elementary School in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland, Dara enjoys the privilege of working hands on with staff, students and families to strengthen the culture of character and caring at The Castle. As part of the leadership team she enjoys helping to balance the focus on academic excellence and rigor along with social and emotional learning and character development.

Additionally, Dara is a consultant for the Character Education Partnership, past president of The Maryland Center for Character Education, an expert commentator for Ashoka's Changemakers Competition - Activating Empathy: Transforming Schools to Teach What Matters, a Google Certified Teacher and an Apple Distinguished Educator.

After 16 years as a classroom teacher, five years as technology specialist for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and two years as an instructional coach in DC Public Schools, Dara receives requests from organizations around the world to facilitate meaningful workshops and retreats, provide hands on coaching and consulting and present inspiring keynotes.

Dara invites you to connect with her so together you can bring joy, meaning and purpose back to teaching and learning.