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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
Aubrey Jones practices a relaxation exercise at Natchez-Adams School District's (NASD's) Gilmer McLaurin Elementary (GME) before the pandemic.
Learning STANDARDS
Formalizing ‘That Special Something’ for Mississippi’s Teachers, Classrooms Heather Craig
T
he Mississippi Department
highlighting the need for formal SEL
In its push for developing the
of Education (MDE) imple-
tools. What was originally a plan for
standards quickly, the MDE had out-
mented the state’s first
the near future became a cemented
side help. The plan is a joint effort
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
reality when educators realized the
between the MDE; the Collaborative
Standards in January to address the
effects of the pandemic caused high
for Academic, Social and Emotional
needs of pre-K and K-12 students in
levels of stress and uncertainty for
Learning (CASEL); and Realizing
classrooms across the state, includ-
students of all grade levels.
ing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills
“When COVID-19 hit and we saw
Excellence for ALL Children in Mississippi (REACH MS). CASEL is the
that there was going to be a sub-
organization that helped defined SEL
stantial need for these standards, we
more than two decades ago. REACH
The standards were already in
absolutely sped up our design and
MS is a sub-grantee of the MDE’s spe-
the planning and defining phase
implementation,” said Ginger Koestler,
cial education department that part-
when the global pandemic led to the
the MDE’s behavioral intervention
ners on much of the department’s
shift to online and hybrid learning,
specialist.
behavioral intervention work, making
and decision-making skills.
School Focus
22
Winter 2021
