Attention: State and District Leaders, School Administrators, Educators, Student Support Personnel, Parents, and Education Stakeholders
The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to address topics that are on the top of educators’ minds. After sharing federal updates, the series features lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, institutions of higher education, and other places of educational instruction. It also shares a variety of useful resources.
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to join this Free to Learn miniseries. This miniseries focuses on evidence-based practices to prevent, address, and ameliorate the effects of bullying, violence, and hate while also supporting school safety, school-based mental health, and positive school climates. The first webinar is Creating Welcoming School Environments.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
The feeling of being welcomed into a school or classroom is experienced uniquely by each person. Feelings of belonging and inclusion support student attendance, engagement, and achievement and are essential to get students and families through the doors of schools and then stay, so they can engage in academics, extracurricular activities, and the school community. This webinar shared research on health behaviors and experiences among adolescents—and the positive effects of connectedness and belonging on students’ health and well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will highlight a new school mental health action guide. Attendees also heard from presenters on strategies to nurture welcoming environments and belonging through practices for the entire school community and for specific groups who may be at higher risk of experiencing identity-based bullying and hate-based violence. Practitioners in the field provided examples of strategies that are working in their schools, and there will be time at the end for audience questions.
Speakers
- Dr. Kathleen Ethier, Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Cheryl Greene, Senior Director, Welcoming Schools, Human Rights Campaign Foundation
- Patti Hershfeldt, DEI Amplifier, California Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (CalTAC PBIS); Founder, Sage Learning Solutions
Panelists
- Dr. Michael Konrad, Principal, Pueblo Gardens, Tucson Unified School District, AZ
- Silvia Torres, Program Manager, School Partnerships, Families in Schools, CA
- Dr. Julie Goldman, Director, Equity Curriculum and Instruction, San Diego County Office of Education, CA
Moderator
- Cindy Carraway-Wilson, Training Specialist, NCSSLE
Webinar Materials
Related Resources
- United We Stand Engagement Toolkit, The White House
- Fact Sheet: Taking Action to Prevent and Address Hate-Motivated Violence and Foster Unity, The White House
- School Connectedness Helps Students Thrive, CDC
- Bridging Differences Playbook, Greater Good Science Center, University of California, Berkley
- Enhancing Family-School Collaboration with Diverse Families, Center on PBIS
- Promoting Religious Inclusion in Schools, NCSSLE (webpage)
- Partners in Prevention: Engaging the Secondary School Community to Prevent Gender-Based Violence, NCSSLE (webinar)
- Preventing and Intervening in Identity-Based Bullying, NCSSLE (webinar)
- Supporting Transgender & Nonbinary Students in K-12 Schools, NCSSLE (webinar)
- Supporting the Social and Emotional Learning Needs of Afghan and Other Newcomer Students, NCSSLE (webinar)
- Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools, CDC
- PDF can be found here
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report, CDC
- LGBTQ Inclusivity in Schools: A Self-Assessment Tool, CDC
- Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT), CDC
- Gratitude journal, Greater Good in Action
- Three good things, Greater Good in Action
- Gratitude letters and gratitude visits, Greater Good in Action
- My Name, My Identity
- Enhancing Family-School Collaboration with Diverse Families, Center on PBIS
- 2023 LGBTQ+ Youth Report, The Human Rights Campaign
- Resources for Educators, Families to Discuss the Events in Israel and Gaza with Students, San Diego County Office of Education
- Facilitating Dialogue with Compassion, San Diego County Office of Education
- Writing Redesigned for Innovative Teaching and Equity (WRITE), San Diego County Office of Education
Please contact NCSSLE if you have any questions. We look forward to sharing this information with you and hearing about the important work you are doing in your schools, communities, and states to meet the needs of students and staff.
More on the Lessons from the Field Series
To access archived materials from previous webinars and to find out what is coming next, go here.