Q. Tell us a little about how your background and how you got to Brenham.
A. I am so excited to be here. My family and I moved to Brenham this summer and it has been an amazing experience so far. I grew up in Huntsville, but have lived in the Clear Lake Area of Houston for the past 23 years. I always wanted to return to a small-town atmosphere. I received my undergraduate degree from Sam Houston State University and taught mainly in the Clear Creek Independent School District. After several years, I decided to go back to school and received my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Lamar University. With my heart still very much based in education and a love for kids, my husband, two children and I decided accepting the position of social emotional coordinator for the Brenham Independent School District was a good move.
Q. What exactly is a social emotional coordinator?
A. A social emotional coordinator assists students and adults in developing fundamental social and emotional competencies, skills and tools such as confidence, optimism, a growth mindset, stress management, self-motivation, effective communication, and responsible decision-making. As educational trends continue to develop, we are finding more evidence that, while developing academics is important, developing social skills and higher emotional intelligence is essential for individual success in today’s society. Brenham ISD wants to provide that opportunity to their students and educators - that’s where I come in.
Q. What does that look like in practice?
A. It can take on many different forms, so that’s a tricky question. In a nutshell, it is supporting teachers in fostering classroom environments and lessons that practice social and emotional skills. That may mean working with students one-on-one when needed, helping teachers design specific lessons or modify existing lessons to include SEL skills, visiting classrooms to discuss a variety of topics, promoting mental health awareness through workshops, or launching district-wide awareness campaigns.
Q. What are some things we can expect from the program?
A. Ideally, we will see more well-adjusted students and educators, higher levels of proactive conflict resolution, increased test scores, and lower levels of burn-out. It may not be felt or seen right away, but as these practices become more ingrained within our educational environment, these results will become inevitable.
Q. What are your personal thoughts about how social emotional learning can affect the district?
A. I believe that increasing social and emotional skills and awareness is priceless. The bottom line is that our students will be better adjusted, more capable of functioning in today’s society, and have the skills to help them navigate through life with more grace and confidence. While educating students is our primary goal, SEL reaches beyond our students and touches the lives of our educators, administrators, parents, caregivers, and community.
