GUEST EDITOR
Students’ Wellbeing Depends on a
Strong School Community By Nicholas Rodriguez
Long before social-emotional learning became a buzzword in schools, two forward-thinking educators pledged their commitment to students’ well-being by establishing a school that put students first in every way. Marilyn Gatlin and Betty Anderson were graduate students at the University of South Florida who wanted to work in a school that ref lected their child-centered vision. In 1968, the women founded Independent Day School—now Corbett Prep—on the philosophy that happy students are more open to learning. Students who are respected as individuals and allowed to “play, investigate and be themselves,” as Gatlin and Anderson wrote, will de-
velop a positive view of school and become more motivated than students who are expected to behave, think and learn in ways that adhere to a one-size-fits-all standard. Creating a school climate where students feel safe, engaged and, yes, happy, remains a priority for Corbett Prep more than 50 years later. We know it’s more important than ever for schools of all kinds to commit to students’ emotional health at this time of stress and uncertainty over physical health. A social-emotional learning (SEL) program helps students identif y and manage emotions, act responsibly and empathetically, maintain healthy relationships and set goals. It also can help students academically, research says. Students who participated in evidence-based SEL programs demonstrated an 11 percent gain in academic achievement compared with students who had no access to those programs, according to a CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) review of 213 studies involving more than 270,000 students.
At Corbett Prep, we are fortunate to have a multifaceted SEL program delivered by highly trained teachers to provide students with support as we push them to succeed. Our teachers encourage students to develop a grow th mindset to persevere when they meet obstacles in their learning. They use strategies for classroom management to reduce distractions and create camaraderie through class builders, minimizing misbehavior and freeing time for teaching and learning. While a dedication to emotional wellbeing starts at the top with school leadership, I believe it takes an entire school community to ensure students have a protective and supportive place to learn. Parents, teachers and administrators bring different strengths and perspectives to the table and will have the most powerful effect on students’ wellbeing when they work together.
LEARN MORE: CORBETTPREP.COM
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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2020
