SEL…if you work in education, you know what it means, but if not the term might be new to you. SEL stands for Social Emotional Learning. At Hope Academy we use it as a tool to help our students and teachers thrive. There are five core competencies of SEL:

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills
• Responsible Decision-Making

At Hope Academy, we understand these skills aren’t just important in the classroom–they are critical in nearly every area of life. In our partnership with Susie’s Legacy, we use the principles of SEL to improve the overall culture of our school community as well as academic outcomes and life-skills development of our students. SEL also  gives our students the tools they need to reduce stress, anxiety and negative self-image.

Watch this video, featuring Susie’s Legacy Founder Paula Brennan as she shares more about why SEL is a true gift to teachers and students at Hope.