Demystifying Systemic SEO Webinar Series

Introduction

• Emotional acknowledgment of recent Texas tragedy
• Emphasis on empathy, care, and love in difficult times

Focus of the Webinar

• Supportive school and classroom climates
• Mention of recent session on student voice
• Overview of today’s topic: School and Classroom Climates

Personal Reflection Activity

• Participants asked to reflect and share in the chat about a time they felt safe, cared for, and protected in school
• Findings: Importance of being seen, strong relationships, belonging, and engagement

Framing Supportive Climates

• Supportive climates are essential for effective SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) implementation
• Key elements:
  • Feeling valued and cared for
  • Being engaged and supported
  • Relationships
  • Belonging and trust
  • Staff’s cultural competence and SEL modeling
  • Discipline policies revisited for equity and fairness
  • Family engagement

Video Clip Introduction

• Highlights a school aiming to be a safe, welcoming place
• Importance of reliable, consistent routine
• Creating an environment where students feel calm and know what to expect

Introduction of the Panelists

• Dr. Camille Farrington: Expert on academic mindsets and psychosocial factors in academic settings
  • Focuses on learning environments and opportunities for positive development
• Michelle Jackson: High School SEL Support Manager
  • Works on cultivating safe and supportive learning experiences tailored to students’ cultural identities

Description of Safe and Supportive Climates

• Dr. Camille Farrington:
  • Environment where students feel seen, known, and cared for
  • Students can bring their full selves without fear
  • Physical environment should be inviting
• Michelle Jackson:
  • Focus on what a school feels like
  • Cultural representation and community involvement critical
  • Adults should support students’ identity and belonging

Connection Between Culture, Climate, and SEL

• Dr. Camille Farrington:
  • Learning environments significantly impact student engagement and behavior
  • Opportunities for leadership and agency are crucial
• Michelle Jackson:
  • SEL needs to be embedded at all levels
  • Examples of policies and strategies to support SEL

Evidence Supporting Impact of Supportive Climate

• Various studies show positive correlations between supportive climates and academic gains, social competence, and mental health
• Different settings studied include middle schools, math classrooms, and more
• Key findings: Better climates lead to better student outcomes

Chicago Public Schools' Use of Data

• Continuous improvement strategies in schools
• Integrating SEL into continuous improvement plans
• Recent efforts to combine SEL with other frameworks like MTSS

Role of Adults in Developing School Climate

• Adults’ behavior and interactions critically shape culture
• Importance of self-awareness, modeling, and setting conditions for learning
• Practical examples and challenges

Q&A Highlights

• Strategies for schools with punitive cultures
  • Engage students and families
  • Create shared agreements and support systems
• Communicating SEL importance to school boards
  • Emphasize holistic student development
  • Engage school boards in SEL practices
• Family engagement strategies
  • Continuous process, need for effective feedback mechanisms

Final Takeaways

• Conditions for SEL require supportive environments
• Importance of incentivizing districts
• Collaborative inquiry as a method

Thanks and Resources

• Gratitude expressed to panelists
• Encouragement to explore provided links and resources