Full Schedule

Social and Emotional Learning Conference

More than 20 educational sessions await in the 2023 Social and Emotional Learning Conference, led by two keynote speakers, a special virtual breakout session option and local and regional experts sharing their insights. 

The day begins with registration at Maucker Union, a welcome from College of Education Dean Colleen Mulholland and the keynote presentations. Then enjoy a brief walk from Maucker to Schindler Education Center. Along the way, stop for a quick coffee or chai at the Tin Cup Bus Stop, parked conveniently on your way across campus. 

Your lunch break includes your meal, vendor exhibits and a book signing by children's book author Pat Zeitlow Miller.

Full Schedule

All times Central Daylight Time (CDT) 

Registration & Welcome


7:30 am-8:00 am
Maucker Union

Registration

8:00am-8:10 a.m.

Welcome
Dean Colleen Mulholland, College of Education 


Keynote Sessions 


8:10am-9:10am 
Maucker Union

Permission To Feel: The Power of Emotional Intelligence to Achieve Well-being and Success in School and Life* 

*Also offered as part of virtual ticket 

Marc Brackett, PhD 
Emotions matter. What we do with our emotions is especially important. The goal of this presentation is to (1) inspire a new mindset around the power of emotions to transform our lives, (2) describe the five key underlying skills of emotional intelligence, known as the “RULER” skills, and (3) provide innovative strategies and tools for developing emotional intelligence so that our emotions help, rather than hinder, our well-being and success at home, in school, at work, and in everyday life.

9:20am-10:30am 

What It Takes: A Call to Action for Racial Equity-Oriented Social and Emotional Learning*

*Also offered as part of virtual ticket

Gina McGovern, PhD, and Cortez Watson, Jr., MEd,  LSMA
McGovern will be joined by Watson to advocate for a racial equity lens for SEL, share examples of transformative SEL practices, and provide early data on the prevalence of racial equity-oriented SEL practices in schools nationwide and a small sample of afterschool programs. Participants will be charged to shift their understanding of social emotional learning in ways that better support adults and youth towards healing from the harms of racism.


Break 10:30am - 10:50am


Walk to Schindler Education Center for breakout sessions 

Coffee Stop: Tin Cup Bus Stop, East Central Campus


Breakout Sessions 10:50am - 11:40am (SEC)


Linked Through Love: A Trauma-Informed Pedagogy (SEC 217-218)*

*Included in virtual ticket and also broadcasted onsite  

Rasheena Bell, MEd, San Francisco Unified School District 
In efforts to meet the diverse needs of her school community Bell is leading her school towards implementing research-based strategies like trauma-Informed practices. In this presentation, Bell speaks to what it really takes to implement trauma-informed practices in a school setting. She will share with you a bite-sized amount of the science behind the pedagogy and key strategies that can be implemented to support the pedagogy in practice. 

  • Participants will understand the science behind trauma informed practices.
  • Take away key strategies to better support students with a trauma informed lens.

Self-Assessment Opportunity:  How Are You Engaging with Racial Equity in your SEL Instruction? (SEC 216)

Gina McGovern, PhD
This session is designed to help you reflect on how you’re engaging with racial equity in your SEL instruction.  We will start by using a tool to identify what you’re already doing that’s equity-focused and where you might need to push yourself.  Then we will discuss our goals and how to find a community of support.  You’ll leave with an action plan to implement new strategies and invest in ongoing learning.

  • Participants will use the REQSEL tool to assess their use of racial equity-oriented SEL practices
  • Participants will reflect on their emotional responses to the practices in the REQSEL tool
  • Participants will identify colleagues to invite into a community of support
  • Participants will create an action plan to engage with racial equity in their SEL instruction

A Wider View of the World: How Picture Books Help Readers Care, Connect and Collaborate  (SEC 220)

Pat Zietlow Miller, Children’s Author
Most picture books only have a few words per page. But, the best books pack lots of wisdom and love into that limited space. Picture books introduce readers to a wider world than the one they've grown up knowing -- while  focusing on the emotions and experiences that connect us all.

  • Learn how writers find those universal emotions and weave them into stories that readers want to come back to again and again.

A NAMI Program to End Stigma and Open the Conversation Around Mental Health in Iowa Schools (SEC 222)

LeMar Yeager, NAMI Iowa
Learn about NAMI’s Ending the Silence presentation, an engaging, evidence-based program that helps middle school, high school, and college-age youth learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if they or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental health condition. Students will learn about mental health conditions through a brief presentation, short videos, and personal testimony from a young adult who describes their journey to recovery. Schools and organizations that have experienced Ending the Silence report positive conversations and progress toward mental health and wellness for students and as a school community.

  • Learn about the program Ending the Silence, offered by NAMI in schools across Iowa

Inclusion: What It Is and What It Isn't (SEC 309)

Paul and Gina Greene, community members and parents of the late Tyler Greene
Ability Awareness and Inclusion discussion based on years of presenting as a family and what was learned along the way.  Most folks have their hearts in the right place when meeting others with limited abilities. They want to do what’s right and they believe they are. But in reality, they are not practicing true inclusion and, while somewhat taken aback by that revelation, are eager to learn more.

  • Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about Ability Awareness and Inclusion. 
  • Discuss inclusion together and have the opportunity to learn from each other.

Integrating SEL in the Classroom (SEC 409)

Kristen Schrock, Katie Ireland, Sami Steffensmeier, Cedar Falls Community Schools
Learn how our elementary team uses SEL practices! This session is designed to provide educators with examples of how we use SEL practices on a daily basis. Through direct instruction and activities, participants will develop an understanding of tools they can use to identify and respond to students' needs throughout the instructional day.

  • Participants will be able to identify ways to implement mindfulness in their daily instructional day. 
  • Participants will learn how to use a daily emotional check-in with their students. 
  • Participants will learn how to implement the use of a calming corner and the tools in it.

Lunch, Vendor Exhibits & Book Signing 11:40am-12:30pm


  • Lunch in SEC atrium lobby, 2nd floor
  • Children's book author Pat Zeitlow Miller signs books in the Instructional Resources & Technology Services center, 2nd floor
  • Vendor exhibits & UNI degree information, 2nd floor
  • Tin Cup Bus Stop (outside) 

Breakout Sessions 12:30pm - 1:20pm (SEC) 


The Power of Joy in SEL (SEC 216)

Sarah Montgomery, PhD, Certified Mindfulness Educator, University of Northern Iowa
Explore practical strategies for how to cultivate joy and connection in your classroom in the context of SEL. This workshop will focus on how we can use mindfulness and joy-based practices to fuel student and teacher well-being, in addition to how we can integrate key ideas from the field of positive psychology into our teaching and leadership.

  • Engage in practical applications for cultivating joy in your teaching 
  • Learn about resources such as children’s literature and teaching strategies to support joy
  • Consider how joy can support agency and student learning

Engaging Your Community in a Mental Health Resource Event (SEC 217-218)

Samantha Aukes, Ankeny Schools
In 2021 Ankeny Schools faced what many other districts were facing living through the pandemic: an unprecedented mental health crisis.  The school district partnered with community resources and local experts to organize what has become an annual community event.  Rather than shoulder the responsibility of caring for students’ mental health on its own, the school district has worked with the community to build partnerships to support students both inside and outside of school.  Attendees will leave this session with a blueprint to:

  • Organize a community mental health event that brings together the schools, public sector resources, and private companies.
  • Engage in a healthy conversation with your community, focused on supporting students.
  • Establish lasting partnerships in your area to carry the efforts past a one-day event.
  • Measure the success of your efforts.

Educator Wellness: A Necessary Component of SEL Initiatives (SEC 220)

Kerri Clopton & Darcie Davis-Gage, University of Northern Iowa
This presentation will discuss the importance of teacher wellness and provide an overview of evidence-based educator wellness programs and their components. A number of individual wellness practices will be discussed and information about resources for additional information will be shared.

  • Discuss the relationship between educator wellness and student outcomes.
  • Describe evidence-based wellness programs for educators.
  • Identify resources for developing their own wellness practices.

Advocating for Social Emotional Learning and School-Based Mental Health (SEC 222)

Nicole Skaar, University of Northern Iowa

Are you interested in advocacy? Have you been a bit hesitant to take on an advocacy role? There are many ways to be an advocate and educators can play a central role in advocating for social and emotional learning in their school, community, and within the state. This presentation will provide educators with both the why and the how in advocating for social and emotional learning. 

  • Participants will discuss the ethics of educators advocating for SEL and SBMH in schools
  • Participants will describe messages they can use in their advocacy
  • Participants will describe methods for advocacy

Creating a Comprehensive SEL Plan That Works (SEC 309)

Jill Hayes White, Director of Student Services, Cedar Falls Schools
Help schools and districts learn how to create and implement an SEL plan that works for their students and staff. Figuring out how to interweave social and emotional learning into your already existing beliefs, routines and practices can be a little overwhelming! This presentation will outline how one district visioned, created, and implemented a comprehensive framework for social emotional learning that met the needs of all students and staff. It will also include an overview of teacher education and preparation for implementation.

  • Clearly understand the purpose of SEL for reaching all students and educators
  • Outline a vision for their own district or building-wide SEL Framework
  • Create a first draft of an SEL implementation plan for your district or building

Development and Implementation of a School-Based Mental Health MTSS in a Rural School (SEC 409)

Amber Goemaat, Angela Livezey, Tim Veiseth, North Mahaska Schools
Experience an overview of our journey in creating and operationalizing our multi-tiered systems of supports in our small, rural school. Included in our presentation will be our "why," our processes and what we've learned along the way. We will share our tools as well as how we navigated hurdles such as funding, staff "buy-in" and parental/community support.

  • Develop their own "why" for beginning or continuing the work of SEL/MTSS in their schools. 
  • Be introduced to the supports we provide at each of the 3 Tiers.
  • Reflect on their next steps as they transition back to their districts.

Breakout Sessions 1:30pm - 2:20pm (SEC)


Mental Health in Early Childhood: Prevention and Early Intervention (SEC 216)

Stephanie Schmitz, University of Northern Iowa
A child’s well-being is of utmost importance for future success across all areas of development, both in and out of the classroom. We often use the term “mental health” in this context, but frequent questions are, “What does this term mean? How do we describe it? What does it ‘look like’?” AND, “How can I help foster positive mental health?” BUT, “How do I know when what I am seeing might constitute concerns with a child’s mental health?” “What do I do now?”

  • Possible definitions and descriptions for, and contexts and influences on, mental health;
  • Promoting positive mental health and well-being during the early childhood years;
  • “Red flags” for mental health concerns;
  • Action steps for identifying possible assessments evidence-based interventions for young children with mental health concerns; and,
  • Resources on Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH) for educators.

A Simple Introduction to Radical L.O.V.E. As a Practice: Connecting Hip Hop's Culture of Resistance and Celebration (SEC 217-218) 

Cortez Watson, Jr., MEd, LSMA, The Hip-Hop F.I.R.M. 
This session will focus on leveraging YOUR languages of love in personal practice. Learn how to connect soul to soul through the S.P.I.R.I.T. of Hip Hop. Leave inspired to create your own acronym of meaningful words that align with your soul. 

  • Make connections to yourself and your work through YOUR L.O.V.E.
  • Understand how to use methods of science and love in practice.

EQ for You: Social Emotional Self-Care for Educators (SEC 220)

Amy Jenkins, Challenge to Change
Better understand emotional intelligence so you can become more aware, intentional and purposeful in your self-reflection and interactions with yourself and others. Through numerous activities, participants will develop an understanding of the Know, Choose, Give (KCG) model and how those concepts impact their social-emotional health.  Attendees will walk away with a toolkit of social-emotional skills you can use both personally and professionally!

  • Participants will be able to identify Know, Choose and Give (KCG) concepts.
  • Participants will be able to identify the importance of understanding and demonstrating emotional intelligence skills. 
  • Attendees will participate in activities that help to deepen their understanding of KCG concepts, which they will be able to use in everyday life.

Fireside Chat: Book Discussion with Q&A (SEC 222)

Pat Zietlow Miller, Children's Book Author
 

Restorative Discipline Practices for PK-12 Settings (SEC 309)

Jill Hayes White, Director of Student Services Cedar Falls Schools
Learn the basic tenants of Restorative Practices (RP) -- what they are, how they benefit students and teachers, and how to get started with implementing RP in your school or classroom.  Walk away with many ideas for how to get started with increasing student agency, school belonging and engagement in the classroom. Teachers will also learn about the power of setting high expectations and building teacher credibility.

  • Implement preventative and responsive restorative practices.
  • Facilitate a restorative chat, 
  • Help students resolve conflict by taking ownership of their actions and making amends.

Mentors in Violence Prevention Model 2.0: Continuing Social Emotional Learning of Students (SEC 409)

Alysa Mozak & William Fleming, University of Northern Iowa Center for Violence Prevention
The Patricia A. Tomson Center for Violence Prevention created a ready-to-use curriculum on Social Emotional Learning lessons based on one of our signature programs, Mentors in Violence Prevention, for high school classrooms, conveniently structured in an online format that can act as stand-alone or scaffold-based learning. Topics range from healthy relationships, building empathy, conflict mediation, forgiveness and more. In this session, you will learn about the background and mission of this resource, as well as how it can be utilized.

  • Participants will learn the background of the MVP 2.0 project.
  • Participants will learn how to navigate and use the MVP 2.0 website.
  • Participants will learn how to integrate lessons from MVP 2.0 into existing practices.

Breakout Sessions 2:30pm - 3:20pm (SEC)


The Impact of Forgiveness Education on Students' Social Emotional Well-Being (SEC 216)

Suzanne Freedman, University of Northern Iowa

Forgiveness education has proven to be effective in reducing anger and increasing empathy and compassion in children, adolescents and adults. This presentation will introduce forgiveness education as an approach to SEL. It will describe the results of a research study focusing on forgiveness education with fifth graders, with emphasis on how forgiveness education can improve students’ social-emotional well-being.

  • Participants will learn about forgiveness, including what it is and is not, and what it means and looks like to forgive from a psychological perspective
  • Participants will learn how to incorporate forgiveness education in the school curriculum as a form of SEL

Promoting Social and Emotional Resilience through Art and Literacy (SEC 217-218)

Wendy Miller, PhD and pre-service students Paige Hollingshead & Charlie Edge, University of Northern Iowa
This presentation focuses on teaching SEL and building resilience through art-making to support both students and teachers.  First, we focus on using children's books to encourage young students to actively share and practice social and emotional learning through elementary art lessons. Secondly, we will discuss a way to support teachers who experience compassion fatigue through the creation of "zines," mini-magazines on teacher resilience and self care. Through research, discussion and reflection, teachers can develop ways to build relationships with students while learning to set boundaries to care for their own health.

  • Practice with art materials to explore SEL concepts
  • Discuss ways to actively engage with children through open-ended art-making
  • Reflect on your boundaries and create self-care tools

Elevating Youth Voices to Advance School Mental Health (SEC 220)

Gabby Guerra Ceron, Please Pass the Love
Join Gabby Guerra Ceron, Interim Executive Director of Please Pass the Love, as she shares lessons learned while working with youth in school-based mental health initiatives like their Stomp out Stigma mental health clubs and Youth Advisory Board.

  • Understand the need to engage youth voices authentically 
  • Learn how to create an environment where students feel empowered to lead mental health change in their schools. 
  • Explore the impact youth have made through their involvement with Please Pass the Love school mental health programs 

Harmonic Love: The Secret Magic of SEL and Building Healthy Relationships (SEC 222)

Roshawn Berry, Waterloo Community Schools
In this session learn ten key strategies to build healthy relationships with your students, colleagues, family, and friends. By applying SEL along with the Seven Universal Principles we are able to create a world filled with compassion, empathy, and love which will improve the world for humanity.

  • The learner will understand the importance of cultivating a social and emotional learning environment through building healthy relationships with both young people and adults. 
  • The learner will understand the seven universal principles and how social and emotional learning is embedded within these principles.
  • The learner will have 10 key strategies to build healthy relationships in their lives to help make the world a better place.

Supporting Trans & Non-Binary Youth (SEC 309)

K.R. Luedke, University of Northern Iowa
An introduction to expansive gender identities in youth, with a focus on terminology, affirmation, mental health and resources.  Learn about issues and terminology, supportive and affirming strategies, how to recognize mental health risks and find helpful resources.

  • Explain issues/terminology related to gender identity
  • Employ supportive and affirming strategies
  • Recognize mental health risks
  • Select and use helpful resources