Community Conversation: Social-Emotional Learning & Positive School Climate

Social-Emotional Learning and Positive School Climate―What Parents Need to Know and Can Do 

Parents know how important strong social-emotional skills and a positive school climate are for kids to be engaged learners and to become healthy, happy adults.  But, what can schools and parents do to create supportive, safe environments on-campus and at-home?  How can we work together to promote SEL skills among students, teachers, and ourselves?  And what does local survey data show about the state of school climate in Marin County schools?

Join us for this special virtual event with California experts, where parents will:

• Learn about social-emotional learning and what a positive school climate looks like;
• Engage in an interactive activity and discussion to understand your public school climate data; and
• Receive advocacy and other resources to help turn conversation into action.

You will come away with examples of SEL best practices in-school and at-home, a better understanding of the climate in your child’s district and school, and actions you can take to influence your school and family to support students’ social-emotional and academic needs.

OPENING ADDRESS:

Senator Mike McGuire, California 2nd Senate District

Senator Mike McGuire is a lifelong Californian. His family farmed the Golden State’s rich soils for decades and he was raised by two incredibly strong women, his mom and grandma. Mike and his mom struggled growing up. He’s been working full-time since he was 16, helping put himself through college. Mike is the third highest ranking member of the Senate and the youngest Assistant Majority Leader in decades. He’s been a champion for our kids and public schools. He went to the mat and won against President Trump on offshore oil drilling, led the charge in the legislature on wildfires, and is a leading voice in holding PG&E accountable. And no one has been more successful at securing resources to combat homelessness and build affordable housing in rural California. Mike, his wife Erika, an elementary school principal, along with their son Connor, call Sonoma County home with their lazy pug, Gertrude.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATION:

Jenny Woo, Founder & Educator, Mind Brain Parenting

Jenny Woo is a Harvard-trained educator, TEDx speaker, and Founder/CEO of Mind Brain Parenting. She has worked with children and families as a school administrator, with college and graduate students as a career coach and instructor at UC Berkeley, with new and seasoned employees as a human capital consultant and executive coach in the silicon valley, and with older adults as a cognitive science researcher. Jenny conducts research in social-emotional learning and teaches the Emotional Intelligence certificate program at the University of California, Irvine. Jenny is the creator of a series of award-winning emotional intelligence games: 52 Essential Conversations, 52 Essential Relationships, 52 Essential Critical Thinking Skills, and 52 Essential Coping Skills. Her games won the Parents' Choice Awards, Mom's Choice Awards, and Tillywig BRAIN CHILD Award, and are used by parents, educators, and therapists in 50+ countries.

Leslie Poynor, State Coordinator for the California School Climate, Health and Learning Survey System, WestEd

Leslie Poynor, PhD is a WestEd Research Associate and State Coordinator for the California School Climate, Health and Learning Survey System, the largest statewide survey of resiliency, protective factors, and risk behaviors in the nation. Leslie’s expertise assists schools in using data-driven decision-making to create safe and supportive school climates for both students and staff from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. She has developed and facilitated numerous professional development and data workshops on creating safe and supportive school climates, as well as on the education of the whole child (e.g., cognitive, emotional, social, physical) from a strengths-based position. Leslie has conducted a number of original research studies, authored several published education articles, published an edited book, and presented at local, state, national, and international conferences. She received a PhD in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University.

PARTNERS:

For questions, please contact Jeff Weiner, MPP, Director of Public Policy, at (732) 814-0148 or jeffw@jfcs.org.