Episode 39: Social & Emotional Learning Conference

In this episode of the Bridging the Gap podcast, we speak with Dr. Nicole Skaar, from the University of Northern Iowa about the origins and impact of UNI's fifth annual Social & Emotional Learning Conference supporting students’ social, emotional, and behavioral development. Dr. Skaar shares how the event began with a vision from Aricia Beckman to support students with autism and evolved—through collaboration with Dr. Kerri Clopton—into a broader focus on social-emotional learning, now entering its sixth year. She discusses why SEL is increasingly important as educators see more students arriving at school with social and emotional challenges, highlighting that SEL builds on long-standing practices like character education, classroom management, and strong teacher–student relationships. The conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Stephanie Jones of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, director of the EASEL Lab and the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, as well as children’s author Susan Verde, author of the bestselling I Am Human. The conference also highlights the work of Iowa educators through breakout sessions that showcase practical SEL strategies being used in schools across the state.

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Marc Brackett