In early November I was among 29 New Mexicans who had the privilege to join over 1,700 participants from 46 states and 36 countries at the 2023 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Exchange in Atlanta, the annual conference hosted by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). The theme, “Leaders as Learners: Building the Village Our Children Need,” highlighted the importance of developing and sustaining the emotional and social capacities of adults who serve young people. Adult SEL helps build the context for both educator wellbeing and young people’s healthy development. 

The New Mexico conference contingent was comprised of school administrators, teachers, researchers, funders, New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) staff and four students from Zuni High School. We traveled from the Southwest to the Southeast to learn about the latest research and practices in high quality, culturally sustaining, transformative SEL.

During his speech at the conference, Dr. Roberto Rivera, Co-Founder of the Alliance for the 7th Generation, said that “the best teachers become students of their students.” Our students bring unique perspectives, experiences, hopes and dreams. We need to shape educational systems in New Mexico that elevate and integrate students’ lived experiences and ensure that New Mexicans succeed because of where they are from rather than in spite of it. 

Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Atlanta Public Schools’ Social Emotional Learning Director, discussed how Atlanta Public Schools has fostered adult learning around self-awareness. “We need to be aware of our own identity and how it shows up in our work, then we can model that behavior to our students,” she said. 

As educators our attention and care often follow patterns, but we need to be deliberate and intentional rather than simply intuitive with our caring and attention. That way we can be sure to attend to all students, so that every student feels seen and belongs.

In addition to learning from national experts steeped in the practice and theory of SEL, New Mexicans wove connections with one another and with colleagues across the nation at the conference. 

Dawn Eriacho, Tina Panteah and Matt Cornelius, along with four students from Zuni Public Schools (Gabriella James, Deanna Sanchez, Corie Quam, Elaina Leekity and Chaperone Brenna Edaakie) lead a session entitled ‘“Utilizing the A:Shiwi Core Values to Build Culturally Connected SEL.” The students and faculty dressed in full regalia to walk through the Convention Hall. They are leading the way and setting an example of authentic learning from and with the community. In fact, Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel, President of CASEL referenced the Zuni Public Schools sharing their A’Shiwi Core Values as an example of “the diversity in our experiences and backgrounds as well as the unity of our shared goal of building the villages children need to thrive.”

During his speech at the conference, Dr. Roberto Rivera, Co-Founder of the Alliance for the 7th Generation, said that “the best teachers become students of their students.” Our students bring unique perspectives, experiences, hopes and dreams. We need to shape educational systems in New Mexico that elevate and integrate students’ lived experiences and ensure that New Mexicans succeed because of where they are from rather than in spite of it. 

Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Atlanta Public Schools’ Social Emotional Learning Director, discussed how Atlanta Public Schools has fostered adult learning around self-awareness. “We need to be aware of our own identity and how it shows up in our work, then we can model that behavior to our students,” she said. 

As educators our attention and care often follow patterns, but we need to be deliberate and intentional rather than simply intuitive with our caring and attention. That way we can be sure to attend to all students, so that every student feels seen and belongs.

In addition to learning from national experts steeped in the practice and theory of SEL, New Mexicans wove connections with one another and with colleagues across the nation at the conference. 

Dawn Eriacho, Tina Panteah and Matt Cornelius, along with four students from Zuni Public Schools (Gabriella James, Deanna Sanchez, Corie Quam, Elaina Leekity and Chaperone Brenna Edaakie) lead a session entitled ‘“Utilizing the A:Shiwi Core Values to Build Culturally Connected SEL.” The students and faculty dressed in full regalia to walk through the Convention Hall. They are leading the way and setting an example of authentic learning from and with the community. In fact, Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel, President of CASEL referenced the Zuni Public Schools sharing their A’Shiwi Core Values as an example of “the diversity in our experiences and backgrounds as well as the unity of our shared goal of building the villages children need to thrive.”

Momentum is building, and the moment is ripe to continue building and deepening our work at SEL4NM. We need to keep these vibrant conversations and connections alive as we move forward.

Let’s prioritize coalition-building, communication, and coordination as we build opportunities for all of us across New Mexico to continue learning and growing in SEL. SEL4NM is a unique non-partisan platform to aid these coordinated efforts across the state as we move forward. 

My hope is that we can continue to build connections that lead to support and advocacy, spread the good news, collectively address challenges, and create partnerships with organizations with aligned intentions.

The disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic both revealed and exacerbated our unfit educational system. The pandemic also brought into sharp relief steadily growing cries for help from a generation struggling with their own emotional and mental wellbeing. The time to transform our educational system to be more responsive and intentional about whole person wellbeing, is now. 

New Mexicans have something unique to both gain and contribute to these international exchanges. The majority of us represent minority voices in the US. Our cultures have sought to remain intact and viable. Enriching the understanding of SEL grounded in local community, culture, families, and lived experiences will elevate authentic equity of experiences, model curiosity and inclusion, and highlight the inherent value in the diversity of perspectives

These connections will also build bridges so that the distinct experiences of New Mexicans contribute to national conversations which enrich the understanding of SEL. Social and emotional skills are essential for transforming our educational system and creating conditions that nurture the whole person. 

New Mexicans attending the Conference were also directly and intentionally introduced to national experts. These connections will be invaluable bridges as we effectively design and implement high quality, universal SEL in every school and youth serving organization and adapt national  frameworks and practices to fortify the unique cultural context of our state. 

Another, more immediate opportunity to highlight SEL is right around the corner, in March. Join colleagues around the state, nation and globe to celebrate National SEL Week! Celebrate connections, sharing, and spreading the good word about SEL, including the launch of a year-long #SELSuperpowers campaign, the introduction of a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. Senate, and culminating in a briefing on Capitol Hill.

Join us at SEL4NM.org. Let’s work together to transform this momentum into an unstoppable movement!