Charlotte N.C. (Aug. 2, 2018) — More and more schools and-out-of-school-time providers are implementing social emotional learning (SEL) programs to support student success both in and out of the classroom. However successful SEL programs require careful planning and implementation and it may be difficult for some organizations to know where to start. To help organizations on this journey, Aperture Education has partnered with the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network to present a free webinar at 2 p.m. EDT Aug. 15, 2018 highlighting Kalamazoo’s program and providing tips on how to implement a successful SEL plan. To register for the webinar “How to Develop a Sustainable Social Emotional Learning Program (Case Study),” visit https://goo.gl/fE52FG.
The Kalamazoo Youth Development Network in Michigan is an intermediary organization for Kalamazoo County’s out-of-school-time sector. Its mission is to ensure that all Kalamazoo county youth are college, career, and community ready by the age of 21. One of its focuses is on supporting students’ social-emotional health. During the webinar, officials from the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network will describe the organization’s three-year strategic rollout of its SEL program, including:
- How successful planning positioned the program for sustainability
- The differences between the first and second evolutions of its program
- Where the program is today
- Plans for future growth
Webinar participants will receive actionable takeaways that they can use in their own school, district or out-of-school-time organization.
“We know what a difference a good SEL program can make in the lives of children,” said Jessica Adamson, CEO of Aperture Education. “The Kalamazoo Youth Development Network is a great example of a successful implementation. This webinar will showcase this work and share concrete, actionable advice to help other schools and out-of-school-time organizations begin a similar journey.”
Aperture Education supports educators, administrators and out-of-school-time providers in implementing social and emotional learning programs within their schools or programs and has partnered with the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network to support its SEL implementation. The organizations within the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network use Aperture Education’s Evo Social & Emotional, an SEL assessment and intervention system featuring the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) to identify students’ strengths and the areas in which they may need additional support. The network also uses this assessment data to evaluate the effectiveness of their SEL programs.
About Aperture Education
Aperture Education is a social enterprise focused on addressing the whole child. Its Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) is a standardized, strengths-based measure of critical social and emotional skills. The DESSA comprehensive assessment system includes both the DESSA and the DESSA-mini, a universal screener of social and emotional competence administered in less than a minute. Aperture also provides growth strategies and foundational practices to strengthen social and emotional skills. Its data helps educators, parents, and clinicians understand children’s’ SEL strengths and needs. For more information, go to www.ApertureEd.com.
