During COVID, Michigan had a 30% increase in mental-health related hospital visits among school-aged children. Recognizing the critical role student perspectives play in creating equitable learning environments to support mental health and social and emotional learning (SEL) of all students, the state department and Region 8 Comprehensive Center, worked collaboratively with students and educators to create a framework that centers student voices, including those who have been historically marginalized, by collaborating with, and creating student opportunities to lead inside and outside the classroom. Centering student voice is an evidence-based way to shift adult-centered perspectives, address inequities, and amplify the identity, agency and belonging of all students and their communities. Participants will leave with knowledge of how to align SEL with student voice at the state and local level, learn from the experiences of schools, and reflect on the application to their contexts.
Rose is a Technical Assistance Specialist with the Region 8 Comprehensive Center. Her professional experiences include roles as vice president of research, assistant director of technical assistance, education consultant, research associate, adjunct professor, school psychologist, and classroom teacher.
Bersheril is currently an Education Consultant at the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and a member of the Social and Emotional team. She is also the lead for the Early Warning System initiative. She is a former teacher and principal.
Leisa is the lead for SEL at MDE. She also supports the state level Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) Model Demonstration Project (an effort to integrate PBIS, SEL, and school based mental health.) She has experience in youth risk and protective factors, early warning indicators of dropout and disengagement, and dropout prevention.
Co-coordinator of the MI Region 8 Comprehensive Center for the MDE SEL initiative. She provides customized learning experiences for the unique needs for schools and districts, including diversity, inclusion and equity.