Resources
SEL Week in CT Videos 2025
Putting Play Back into Sports with SEL
Presenters: Steve Boyle, Executive Director & Julie Goldstein, Director of Strategic Initiatives, 2-4-1 Sports
When it comes to youth sports, It’s no surprise that researchers, educators, and policymakers agree that the benefits extend well beyond physical fitness– Think brain development, cognitive skills necessary for learning, and social-emotional competencies promoting resilience, perseverance, conflict resolution, and teamwork! Grab your lunch and join local experts to learn information related to the intersection of SEL and sports, including easy-to-implement, highly effective SEL and trauma-informed strategies to use in the classroom, your after-school program, at home, and out on the field with your team. Based in Hartford, 2-4-1 Sports is a national leader directly impacting thousands of children through 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports, a physical literacy-informed program featuring high-quality SEL. 2-4-1 stands for Life’s too short for just one sport. As participants in this workshop, we invite you to join our mission to provide all children the opportunity to grow physically and emotionally through the play-filled power of sport.
Co-Creating the Conditions for Educator SEL and Well-being
Presenters: Dr. Shauna Tominey & Dr. Miriam Miller from LiberatED SEL
Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are foundational for learning environments where every student thrives. If we want students to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically, then we, as educators, also need to experience what it means to thrive ourselves. SEL programs are most successful when educators are supported in their own social and emotional well-being and growth, but most SEL programs focus only on students’ well-being without attention to the needs of teachers. Teaching can fill our hearts while also draining our spirit, making educators especially at risk for burnout and in need of programs that focus on educator social and emotional well-being. How can we ensure that educators experience what they aim to foster for their students – healing, belonging, and care – while also cultivating their own social and emotional growth? In this interactive session, we will share lessons learned from the LiberatED Fellowship, an approach to SEL that focuses on educator social and emotional well-being while honoring and facilitating identity affirmation, advancing social and racial justice, and promoting healing and liberation. Join us as we build community and share practices that contribute to educator SEL growth and well-being, ultimately, benefiting students as well as the educators who support them.
Facilitator: Jennifer Quaye Hudson
Educators discuss what Social-Emotional Learning resources and approaches work in their schools, programs, and communities. They will also discuss the challenges and solutions they hope to see.
Presenter: Christina Cipriano, Ph. D., Ed.M.
Arriving this summer, Be Unapologetically Impatient is Dr. Chris Cipriano’s love letter to her children and our generation. For every person who has felt small, who has seen wrong. It’s for care providers, and makers, and dreamers, and doers. The educators and architects of a future that embraces our common humanity. It may take our lifetimes to change how systems operate, and even how we are seen in the system. But we can each harness the power in our positionality to interrupt the status quo right now. We can do it every day by prioritizing compassionate, empathetic, inquiry. We can ask questions. We can share expertise in the form of lived experience in real time to affect change. She will share stories and illustrations to show you how we can use evidence-based strategies to build a future for all children and families to thrive in, now. When our patience manifests as complacency with injustice, we are waiting for systems change at the expense of our families. She is not waiting for justice at the expense of her children. And you don’t need to, either. It’s time to be unapologetically impatient. Let Dr. Chris Cipriano show us how.
Mindful Movement: Integrating Creative Strategies for Inside and Outside the Classroom
Presenter: Erin Shea, Poppi’s Planet
Looking for innovative strategies to engage children? Join Erin Shea for a lively and interactive workshop that blends bodily awareness with character-building activities to enhance any SEL-focused environment. Discover how cultivating self-awareness and exploring self-expression through role-play can help children broaden their perspectives and foster empathy for others.
Mastering Stress: Nervous System Regulation for Wellness and Resilience
Presenter: Elaine Gallas, LPC, Embodied Holistic Healing
This workshop will provide an in-depth understanding of nervous system states and teach practical strategies to enhance your ability to manage stress effectively. Participants will explore relaxation techniques, breathwork, grounding practices, and somatic embodiment methods to expand their capacity for resilience and well-being.
- SEL Week in CT Full Playlist
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Past Professional Development
Title: Making Moves: Promoting and Advocating for Health and Wellness
Presenter: Mary Schone
Description: There’s lots of talk about self-care and balancing wellness during this time for adults – but what about the children and youth? In this session, come learn about how you can MAKE MOVES literally and figuratively. We will discuss how to promote and advocate for healthy eating, physical activity and social emotional health and wellness in the time of COVID-19 and beyond. If you ever wondered about concrete resources on these topics, health and wellness policies, or health/wellness committees, come join us to learn more! Now is a great time to engage on these topics. Geared towards directors, supervisors, and emerging leaders.
Title: Integrating Social Justice into MS & HS
Hosts: Dr. Ken Anthony, Ana Mitchell, Human Rights Trainee and Outreach Coordinator-Bilingual, Executive Unit – Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, Cheryl Sharp, Deputy Director – Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, Tina Parziale, Education and Engagement Manager – Real Art Ways
Description: The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) has held the Kids Court Competition since 1993 to educate students about social justice, diversity, and civil and human rights issues. In the past hundreds of youths from across the state have convened at the University of Connecticut Law School in Hartford for a day of engaged learning as they dive deep into these issues with peers. CHRO has taken this portion of the Kids Court Competition and developed the Kids Court Academy. In its second year, the Kids Court Academy is open to middle and high school youth that have an interest and passion in these areas. The Connecticut After School Network is excited to help spread the word and help you and your afterschool program learn more about how you can get involved. While the spring session started March 1st, enrollment is ongoing and welcome.
Title: Mindfulness for you and your Classroom
Presenter: Dawn Dubay, Middletown School Readiness Liaison
Description: This workshop will present you with research-based mindfulness techniques for you to practice and easily incorporate into your daily life and classroom setting. Mindfulness and yoga have been scientifically proven to help regulate children’s emotions, attention and behavior provide lifelong skills for long-term health benefits. This workshop will help support you with self-care and provide you with tools for dealing with stress, anxiety and promote a positive, peaceful learning community for all!
Title: Self-Awareness & SEL
Presenter: Ebony Grace
Description: Our hearts are in the right place when we endeavor to work towards the success of youth in quality programs. However, we must often contend with anxious parents, demanding administrators and overwhelmed colleagues. How do our innate values, beliefs and biases impact the daily work we do in working with other adults? This workshop explores how social-emotional learning can support our work and provide the skills we need to contend with challenging circumstances and interpersonal relationships in the workplace.
Title: The Pyramid Model
Presenters: Lisa Swain & Bethanne Vergean
Description: The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children promotes the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five using Culturally Responsive Practices. This workshop is for families and early childhood educators who would like to learn some strategies for supporting children during transitions and for assisting children with emotional regulation, all with an equity lens. For some young children, moving from one activity to another (e.g., playing with toys to lunchtime, lunchtime to naptime) results in confusion, frustration, or challenging behaviors. Adults can help children predict what is coming next which helps make transitions smoother and gives all children a sense of competence and confidence.
Title: The Benefits of Play on SEL
Presenters: Paquita Jarman-Smith & Michelle Levy
Description: An increasing number of young children are learning more than one language during early childhood. This session will explore equity and bias as it relates to dual language learners, focusing on how language learning and culture connect to social and emotional development. Strategies and resources for building community, planning curriculum and connecting with families will be shared. Connections between WIDA Early Years resources and the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS) will be highlighted.
Title: Promoting Resilience, It’s All About You
Presenters: Dr. Rosemarie Allen
Description: One of the most critical protective factors that support resilience is close, positive relationships with caregivers or other caring adults. Educators have the potential to change the trajectory of a child’s life. What role do you play? How are you ensuring the well-being of children despite adverse early experiences? This presentation will include strategies to increase children’s ability to cope with adversity and techniques that enhance healthy development in vulnerable children. The role of implicit bias, negative perceptions of children’s behaviors, and utilizing culturally responsive and culturally affirming practices, will also be discussed.