Professional Learning Should Blend SEL And Equity: SEL Coaches Can Lead The Way

IDEAS

Professional learning should blend SEL and equity: SEL coaches can lead the way

By Jacy Ippolito and Rachelle Savitz

Categories: Coaching, Equity, Social & emotional learning

April 2022

As school districts continue to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for social justice and equity work is critical. Systemic inequities that have always existed in pre-K-12 schools in the United States have been further exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic. Every school leader needs to ask: How can we promote equity-focused work in schools? Some districts have leaned on district-level directors of equity to lead the work, but they cannot be the lone champions of social justice efforts. Equity leadership requires a broad coalition, and collaboration is key. Some districts are strengthening their coalitions by adding a social and emotional learning (SEL) coach, instructional specialist, or director. Building intentional collaboration among SEL and equity leaders and efforts makes sense, given the extent to

Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.

References

Bean, R.M. & Ippolito, J. (2016). Cultivating coaching mindsets: An action guide for literacy leaders. Learning Sciences International.

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2020). SEL is… casel.org/what-is-sel/

Dugan, J. (2021). Beware of equity traps and tropes. Educational Leadership, 78(6), 35-40.

Frey, N., Fisher, D., & Smith, D. (2019). All learning is social and emotional: Helping students develop essential skills for the classroom and beyond. ASCD.

Jagers, R.J., Rivas-Drake, D., & Williams, B. (2019). Transformative social and emotional learning (SEL): Toward SEL in service of educational equity and excellence. Educational Psychologist, 54(3), 162-184. doi:10.1080/00461520.2019.1623032

National Equity Project. (n.d.). Social emotional learning and equity. www.nationalequityproject.org/frameworks/social-emotional-learning-and-equity

Nieto, S. & Bode, P. (2018). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (7th ed.). Pearson.

Simmons, D. (2021). Why SEL alone isn’t enough. Educational Leadership, 78(6), 30-34.

Simmons, D. N., Brackett, M. A., & Adler, N. (2018). Applying an equity lens to social, emotional, and academic development. Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, Pennsylvania State University.

Teaching Tolerance. (2018). Social justice standards: The teaching tolerance anti-bias framework. www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/TT-Social-Justice-Standards-Anti-bias-framework-2020.pdf

Jacy Ippolito

+ posts

Jacy Ippolito (jippolito@salemstate.edu) is professor and co-coordinator, programs in educational leadership at Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts.