Presented by Dr. Tammy Cruz, Instructional Coach, Kenosha Unified School District (WI); Faith Smith, Education Consultant, Satchel Pulse; and Kelli Helle, Education Consultant, Satchel Pulse

Sponsored by Satchel Pulse

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As educators, we know the life-changing benefits of social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students, but instructional time is already full to the brim to make sure the pandemic learning loss is minimized. Being asked to add something more seems overwhelming. Learning experiences need to be planned for and targeted to the right students at the right time, especially SEL. By using a simple assessment of SEL skills, it is then easy to target the students for effective learning opportunities without adding to an educator’s workload.

In this edLeader Panel, educators Dr. Tammy Cruz, Faith Smith, and Kelli Helle explain and exemplify simple, time-efficient, practical ways of adding the targeted, explicit SEL skills teaching to lessons. They share their experiences of embedding SEL across the K-12 age range and offer solutions that support SEL across the curriculum. View this session to:

• Understand how simple assessment of SEL skills can facilitate a targeted approach to SEL skills development in the classroom and school
• Understand the need for explicit teaching of SEL skills
• Learn practical and simple ways to embed SEL practices across the curriculum

This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, administrators, school counselors, and school psychologists. 

About the Presenters

Tammy Cruz, Ed.D. has 20 years of experience in urban education and has found a love for restorative practices and supporting the SEL needs of students. Her history in education includes working as an adjunct professor, administrator, content facilitator, instructional coach, reading interventionist, and classroom teacher where she earned her NBCT candidacy. Dr. Cruz’s areas of strength are in support of practices aligned to mastery learning where she fostered her deep understanding of competency-based instructional practices. Dr. Cruz embraces new technologies and finds joy in working to improve practices for herself and others by expanding her knowledge through lifelong learning. Her goal as a leader is to be an advocate essential to lead change with a compassionate stance to leadership where high expectations are evident.

Faith Smith has been an educator for over 20 years. From 1999 to 2014, Faith was a high school English teacher. Since 2014, she has been a school and district leader specializing in teacher leadership, instructional technology, and data and assessment. Faith has an M.Ed. with a focus in educational technology, as well as post-graduate certification work in educational administration and curriculum and instruction. Faith is a licensed school administrator in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Kelli Helle has been in education for over 15 years. From 2002 to 2010, Kelli was a middle and high school teacher. Since that time, she has been an assistant administrator and an educational consultant specializing in school improvement and professional development. Kelli has an M.Ed. with a focus in educational leadership and is pursuing her Doctor of Education in curriculum and instruction. Kelli is a licensed school administrator in Florida.

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Satchel Pulse is designed for school leaders to track, monitor, and improve Social Emotional Learning and Culture and Climate. Satchel Pulse provides the relevant tools for data collection and analysis so that buildings can focus on taking action. Our solution is built by experts, based on decades of experience in data analytics.