Empowering The Minds of Students, Staff, and The Community: The Journey of the Social and Emotional Learning Department in Aldine ISD

The Aldine Social and Emotional Learning and Culture Department, established just three years ago, has quickly become an integral part of the Aldine community. This department’s mission is to provide sustainable campus support for students, staff, and parents, focusing on interventions in varying intensities based on student needs and advocating for mental health services. The Aldine SEL department is committed to promoting a safe and inclusive environment that fosters academic success and personal growth for all students and staff. Through its innovative and comprehensive approach, this department is positively impacting the lives of many in the Aldine community.

Dr. Marcie Strahan, Executive Director, emphasized ensuring all students feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn in Aldine. “We want to integrate the use of SEL practices throughout the student experience and develop a culture of belonging by building relationships between students and staff,” said Dr. Strahan.  

To capture this, the SEL department has implemented a strategic success plan that is used as a guideline for its vision: Well-supported students in need, highly trained and effective staff, teacher and staff wellbeing, and tailored community support. Led by Dr. Strahan, the SEL department is small in numbers but strong in productivity. 

Establishing student ownership is a significant focus of the SEL and Teaching and Learning departments, and for good reason. Recent data revealed that only 35 percent of observed classrooms demonstrate effective practices and successful student ownership implementation. To address this issue, the SEL department has launched an initiative in collaboration with T&L to provide support from the district level to the classroom on creating safe learning spaces for students. By doing so, the department hopes to lay the groundwork for student ownership and encourage students to take more responsibility for their learning. Additionally, one of the critical goals of this initiative is to have a 5 percent reduction in behavior events by the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. Through these efforts, the Aldine SEL department is working to empower students and create a more positive and effective learning environment for all.

The Big Picture: 

Lauren Robinson, Licensed Mental Health Professional, understands the importance of looking at the whole child, while laying the groundwork for success. “It’s important to create a pathway for the students to learn and recognize where the issues are stemming from. Sometimes students are doing things, and do not know why they are doing it. Home and school are playing a part in their personal success.”  Sharon Davis, Specialist, believes “changing the campus culture” is step one. Davis said, “Changing campus culture can help students find different ways to express themselves comfortably. Establishing a safe environment by creating a small community.” This includes the practice of personal behavioral charts, making them incentive-based and easily recognizable for the student, and the use of restorative circles, where students can be open and honest about their perspectives regarding a conflict in their behavior. 

One of the challenges the department faces is providing proper follow up intervention and assessment services to students previously identified in crisis due to the amount of initial crisis calls received.  One of the SEL department’s initiatives is to expand campus-based crisis support by providing Mental Health First Aid training to campus support staff, counselors, and administrators. This initiative aims to increase the support students receive from the staff at the campus level and reduce the overall number of crisis calls by 10 percent by June 2024. By prioritizing highly trained and effective staff and expanding campus-based crisis support, the Aldine SEL department is working to ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed.

Jerlene Gibbs, Specialist, has emphasized the department’s work to partner with campus leaders to support teachers at the campus level by advocating for mental health moments. “The teachers and their wellbeing are just as important as the students,” said Gibbs. “Some campuses have implemented incentives such as “Walk it Out Wednesdays” for teachers which highlights their sacrifices. In addition, some campuses provide lunches, massages, and utilize faculty calming rooms to build better campus culture and encourage teachers to take a mental break.” The SEL department also advocates for adult mental health by encouraging staff members to utilize the district’s Employee Assistance Program, which offers many services that benefit teachers and staff, including counseling. 

In conclusion, Aldine ISD is taking important steps to provide tailored support for the Aldine community by increasing the uptake of SEL resources that reflect the community’s diversities. By partnering with wrap-around service providers, the district is able to offer a range of support options including individual and group sessions, professional and community behavioral health services, and medication management. Through these efforts, Aldine ISD is not only promoting the social and emotional well-being of its students but is also supporting families in a way that is culturally aware and responsive to their unique needs. As the district continues to prioritize social emotional learning, we can expect to see even more positive outcomes for the Aldine community in the years to come.