When Shannon Wanless talks about social-emotional learning (SEL), her eyes light up. Wanless, the director of the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh, has long been a proponent of SEL, and the value of teaching it to children as soon as possible. But until this point, she has never been more optimistic […]
On March 20, the AIU and Project SEEKS SES held its eighth virtual community of practice meeting. During the meeting, the West Mifflin School District and the University of Pittsburgh talked about their partnership through Project SEEKS SES. Due to grant support, the West Mifflin School District has been able to create two fitness rooms
When asked for feedback about the wellness rooms in his district — and the behavioral health specialist and behavioral health technician who staff them — Cornell superintendent Aaron Thomas is rather direct. “I couldn’t be happier,” said Thomas. This school year, the Cornell School District transformed two rooms in the school into wellness rooms —
Cornell Wellness Rooms help strengthen the district’s mental/behavioral health supports Read Post »
In education, Tom Ralston is a firm believer in the value of stepping out of the regular day-to-day and broadening horizons. With that in mind, Ralston thought about ways he could help energize teaching students and professors at the University of Pittsburgh, and take them out of their regular schedules. With support from Project SEEKS
University of Pittsburgh takes teaching students to SXSW EDU Read Post »
The Preschool Early Intervention (PEI) program is omnipresent. It’s just about everywhere and making a huge impact on education in Allegheny County. “I feel [people] are aware of who we are and what our job may look like and sound like,” says Amy Abraham, a special education supervisor with PEI. “But I am not sure
March Spotlight: The Impact of the AIU Preschool Early Intervention Program Read Post »
When asked about success stories within the New Directions program at the Penn Hills School District, Thomas Kilcrease’s and Carter Carles’ eyes light up. There’s been a lot. Carles remembers taking on a group of five friends, with one student in particular doing the worst out of the group in school. That student is now
On February 21, the AIU and Project SEEKS SES held its seventh virtual community of practice meeting. The meeting revolved around Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) and Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA). Thanks to Project SEEKS SES support, Chatham University is providing both YMHFA and tMHFA. During the meeting, Dr. Christie Lewis shared
Project SEEKS SES holds virtual community of practice around YMHFA and tMHFA Read Post »
This month, we are taking a “look” at the myriad sensory supports for schools and students from the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Occupational and Physical Therapy Support Program, colloquially known by its acronym, OT/PT (no need to pronounce the slash!) OT/PT provides an array of supports – visual, auditory, and tactile supports, as well as olfactory
February Spotlight: Occupational and Physical Therapy (OT/PT) Supports Read Post »
Last year, the Woodland Hills School District was able to open up a Resiliency Room in the high school, to help students center themselves in times of stress and trauma. With support from Project SEEKS SES — a grant partnership between the AIU and ACHD that supports school districts in addressing social and emotional health
Calming rooms open at Edgewood, Turtle Creek Elementary STEAM Academies Read Post »
As Hailey Hamilton and Kristy Skradski began planning to start a Be The Kind Kid Club at Highlands Elementary School, they reached out to peers for advice. Teachers at Hamilton’s previous school district, Hampton Township, had advised Hamilton to cap the club at 50 students, to make organizing it more manageable. When word spread of
Highlands Elementary introduces new student organization based on spreading kindness Read Post »
