Development of a Program to Strengthen Caring and Social-Emotional Abilities for Middle School Educational Staff

Building resilience through social-emotional learning (SEL), ethics, mindfulness, and compassion practices equips individuals with skills to manage emotions, foster relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL programs have shown positive effects on students’ academic and personal development. Teachers play a crucial role in fostering SEL and creating a positive classroom climate. Educators working with 7th graders participated in a workshop combining mindfulness training, SEL, and pro-social classroom approaches. They were interviewed after the first year of the program, and thematic analysis was employed to categorize their responses. Most expressed satisfaction with the program’s structure and mentioned its positive impact on team cohesion, personal well-being, and self-development. They also expressed a preference for an extended workshop. The staff in one school conveyed their dissatisfaction.