The Story of an SEL Program and Change Leadership

In the 11th largest district of Texas, the Counseling department envisioned a new approach to helping students during the pandemic and utilized ESSR funding to spearhead the development and implementation of a district-wide social emotional learning program for 10 high schools with 15,000+ students. I was invited to lead a team of 5-9 facilitators as we went through the process of change leadership, starting with mission and vision and designing a new system, completing a variety of projects and tasks (adapting CASEL's implementation framework) to build and maintain a social emotional learning program across the district's high schools.




SEL Update Dec 2021.pdf

Update for Campus Administration

Author and Designer

My role was to develop and design adaptable systems and manage multiple projects such as:

  • Manage project planning and execution of tasks by a cross-functional team of 5 - 9 facilitators, including creating detailed timelines, executing logistics, tracking team deliverables, troubleshooting, and overall daily management of program operations with little supervision

  • Oversee both relationship management of facilitators and logistical support for the program, such as deliverable deadlines, team calendars, and holding remote and in-person check-ins

  • Implement logistic pieces such as co-write the mission and vision for a SEL competency-based program and design the logo and common standards document

  • Interface with multiple high-impact stakeholders (community events, leadership at both campus and district levels)

  • Write curriculum for weekly advisory lessons that reached over 15,000 students and newsletters for 1,000+ staff

  • Plan successful community events, such as health fairs, wellness fairs, and more

  • Develop an evaluation system for, and in conjunction with, SEL facilitators

  • Manage conflict within the team and local community, adapting the program and changing action plans as needed

  • Manage long-view timelines, projections, budgeting, culture building, and gaining stakeholder buy-in in a low engagement environment


Examples of Documents Created as Part of the Implementation Process

Proposed SEL Program Implementation.pdf

Blueprint for 22-23

(author, art designer, led committee in review)

September Newsletter 22

Example Newsletter

(author, art designer, led committee in review)

Instructional Review Committee SEL Overview

Parent One Pager

(author, logo and art designer,)


“Change is the end result of all true learning.” ― Leo Buscaglia


“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ― Aristotle