As I evolve as a teacher leader, I desperately want to share with other educators about the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL). Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and SEL are critical for student success, especially our English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Through Education+, I can connect with thousands of other passionate teachers. I want to share with other educators, so they, too, will have a mindset of impacting change in their own classrooms.

I had never considered service learning to be an integral part of my teaching until I became part of the Education+ network. But after seeing the life-changing impacts on my students, I feel service learning is one of the most important aspects of our school curriculum. Students develop a wide range of skills and abilities through their giving back to our local and international communities. They learn empathy and they realize they can truly make a difference in the world around them.

Of all the educational materials and resources that I’ve used over the past 20 years, the most valuable are the ones that gave my students the tools to visualize their purpose, to set goals, to develop action plans, and to know the ‘world’ needs them. As a part of the Education+ community, we recognize the importance of empowering youth to realize their dreams through self-awareness and community relationships.