All of the research points to the classroom as the place where SEL competencies can best be developed on a daily basis. When teachers, through their actions and classroom planning, systematically nurture the cognitive, social, and emotional competencies of students, they grow young people who are happier, healthier, and academically engaged in their day-to-day schooling and life. A commitment to SEL also aligns with and supports a commitment to equity. If we are deliberate about explicitly teaching these vital life skills, we simultaneously build empathy and emotional intelligence ...everything we need to elevate in the lives of our adolescent learners.