Thank you to all of our Sponsors, Presenters, Exhibitors, and Attendees for making 2023 SOMC an incredible experience. We could not have done it without all of you!

5 Ways to Build Upon and Celebrate Strengths in Meetings

We talk a lot about “strengths-based” approaches in our field, but as you know, the ‘walk’ often doesn’t match the ‘talk.’ How frequently do we offer constructive criticism or improvement feedback rather than supporting others by helping them recognize possibility within themselves? In your work as a leader-facilitator who is rediscovering possibility within your team or community, use these five strategies to get grounded in strengths.

Kids Aren’t the Only Ones Who Benefit From Social-Emotional Learning

By Bloodine Barthelus   Aug 29, 2023

We’ve seen time and time again that when we provide educators the support and tools they need ... they’re able to convert that into better outcomes for their students.

This may seem like a small change, but we’ve seen time and time again that when we provide educators the support and tools they need to form stronger relationships and build empathy, they’re able to convert that into better outcomes for their students.

The value of the implementation of SEL practices for children has become widely discussed and recognized. But if our goal is to help students reach their full potential, we must prioritize the health and well-being of our educators too. James Baldwin once aptly said, “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” During this back-to-school season, this quote serves as an important reminder. After all, teachers are the adults with whom children spend the most time outside of their homes. Building a comprehensive support system for adults in schools will require us to change how we think about and value educators. This year, let’s make progress on this front by implementing more SEL for adults to create a positive learning experience for students and educators alike.

So, what steps can we take to prioritize the well-being of our educators and put adult SEL into practice?