Research-Practice Webinar, September 18 | Leading Toward Justice with Transformative Social Emotional Learning

Leading Toward Justice with Transformative Social Emotional Learning (21CSLA Webinar)

  • Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 3:30–4:30 pm PT

  • Free and open to the public

Webinar highlights

Research Perspective

Drs. Mai Xi Lee and Valerie Shapiro's research focuses on the CalHOPE student support effort and transformative social emotional learning (SEL) which aims to shift the paradigm of SEL to include focused attention on community and partnerships as key levers of change.

Dr. Lee noted, “We're aiming to co-construct sustainable and supportive systems where all Californian young people and adults can thrive." This means implementing systemic SEL that engages all levels of the educational system, as well as transformative SEL. According to Dr. Shapiro, “Transformative SEL goes beyond just teaching this young person to manage their emotions in the context of injustice... they also need agency to make change in the world, the change that they'd like to see." Their research highlights the importance of diverse partnerships, robust supports (e.g., training and technical assistance), building educator capacities, and implementing effective structures and routines for SEL. Overall, their work points to the power of research-practice collaboration and continuous improvement to create more equitable, justice-oriented SEL approaches.

Intersection of Research and Practice

Practitioner panelists considered how they, as school leaders, think about systems transformation through equity- and justice-centered social emotional learning. They all actively cultivate a foundation for transformative SEL in schools by fostering trusting relationships and developing a sense of belonging for students, families, staff, and the broader community. Practitioner panelists highlighted the need to center student voices, leverage community partnerships, and engage in ongoing learning and self-reflection as school leaders supporting transformative SEL.

Practitioner panelists offered examples of how they enact transformative SEL. Trusting relationships and a sense of belonging can be developed through welcoming orientations, learning about students and families experiences and needs (via home visits and community circles, for example), exploring community cultural wealth, prioritizing authentic joy and laughter in classrooms, and modeling humility and accountability. Once these relational foundations have been fortified, school leaders leverage community partnerships such as mental health practitioners, behavior intervention teams, and parent engagement teams to support their students and families. The effort to be transformational requires leaders to engage in critical self-reflection, explore and disrupt one’s own biases, and have the courage to have crucial conversations to build consensus among partners.

Discussion/Reflection Questions

  • What do current SEL efforts look like in your school/education context? Are they transformative? Systemic? 
  • What kinds of partnerships do you engage in your SEL efforts?
  • What structures and routines are established in your SEL work related to examining bias and engaging in hard conversations?
  • Are there approaches to SEL, as identified by the practitioner panelists, that you might want to implement in your own context?

Speakers

jabari mahiri headshot

Jabari Mahiri

Professor and Faculty Director, BSE Leadership Programs; Chair, 21CSLA Leadership Board

Mai Xi Lee headshot

Mai Xi Lee

Social Emotional Learning Director, Sacramento County Office of Education

valerie shapiro headshot

Valerie B. Shapiro

Associate Professor, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare; Co-Director, Center for Prevention Research in Social Welfare

Courtney Curtis headshot

Courtney Curtis

Principal, Hoover High School, Fresno Unified School District

dyane plumly headshot

Dyane Plumly

Principal, Monarch School, San Diego COE

tiffany whelden headshot

Tiffany Whelden

Principal, Oak Ridge Elementary, Sacramento City USD

Speaker bios

Jabari Mahiri (Professor and Faculty Director, BSE Leadership Programs; Chair, 21CSLA Leadership Board) is the author of  Deconstructing Race: Multicultural Education Beyond the Color-Bind, as well as host of podcast Equity Leadership Now!

Dr. Mai Xi Lee (Social Emotional Learning Director, Sacramento County Office of Education) is a veteran educator who has served the Sacramento region in many roles, including leading districtwide SEL in Sacramento City Unified School District, serving as a contributing leader for the groundbreaking Collaborating Districts Initiative and California Collaborating States Initiative with the Collaborative for Academic SEL, Advance SEL in California campaign, and California’s Transformative SEL Skills and Conditions Workgroup.

Dr. Valerie B. Shapiro (Associate Professor, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare; Co-Director, Center for Prevention Research in Social Welfare) studies the persistent gap between research and practice as it relates to the promotion of mental, emotional, and behavioral well being in children. She is a recognized thought leader in the field of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), particularly in the areas of assessment, implementation, knowledge mobilization, and infrastructure. She contributes her expertise to the World Health Organization and UNESCO and serves as the Scientific Director and Special Project Advisor to CalHOPE Student Support.

Dr. Courtney Curtis (Principal, Hoover High School, Fresno Unified School District) is an educational leader in Fresno Unified School District in Fresno, California, having spent the last 19 years serving as a teacher, coach, mentor, vice principal, and principal. He has served at both the middle and high school levels as well as at the district level within the School Leadership Department. Dr. Curtis holds a bachelor’s degree in social science, master’s in educational leadership, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Dyane Plumly (Principal, Monarch School, San Diego COE) is principal at Monarch School, a K–12 program that serves unhoused students and families. With 15 years of experience working in SDCOE's Juvenile Court and Community Schools in various roles, she is dedicated to advancing equity and designing healthy learning communities where every student feels welcomed, valued, and heard.

Tiffany Whelden (Principal, Oak Ridge Elementary, Sacramento City USD) has served as an educator in SCUSD for the past 24 years as a teacher, training specialist, assistant principal and principal. An advocate for restorative justice in school settings, Ms. Whelden is passionate about reimagining systems that perpetuate racial inequity within existing school structures.

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