"Making Our Own Culture": Community School Educators' Perspectives on Implementing a Social-Emotional Learning Intervention

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 33
  In Roundtable Session: Teachers' Perspectives on Emotions, Social and Emotional Learning, and Student Behavior

Abstract

Social-emotional learning has been well-established as a critical factor in improving school outcomes; however, guidance on SEL implementation has been limited regarding the perspectives of practitioners tasked with facilitating the implementation. Drawing on an SEL framework and a phenomenological methodology, this qualitative study examines the perceptions and experiences of the SEL implementation team at an under-resourced community school. Findings indicate that the implementation team recognized (1) lack of school cohesion, cultural stigma, and limited resources as significant challenges to be addressed in the initial implementation stage and (2) the importance of priming staff in the initial implementation stage to ensure later success with students. Findings have practical implications for implementing SEL interventions at schools with similar SEL needs.

Author

• Evelyn Wang, University of California - Los Angeles