Emotional Intelligence, Education, and the Courage to Keep Going

Key Points

• To truly prepare children for the future, we must integrate social and emotional learning with knowledge transfer.
• AI can never replace educators. It is a tool for accessing knowledge—but teachers are the ones who build connections and relationships.

We’re excited to share these comments from an educator who was inspired by her experience of CASEL’s webinar Wired for Connection: Reimagining Engagement in a Digital World. This free online event served as a “kickoff” and sneak peek to our upcoming virtual Exchange, coming February 18-19, 2026. Thank you to its author for sharing her insights from this webinar.

Education and emotional intelligence are essential for helping our children master their futures. We, as adults, must ensure that quality and equity in education are not just words, but reality.

On Tuesday evening, I attended a webinar hosted by Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel, president and CEO of CASEL. The keynote speaker was Dr. Andreas Schleicher, director for education and skills at the OECD. I have to say—it was one of the best, if not the best, webinars I have ever attended. I left feeling deeply inspired and reminded that my daily work with children truly matters.

Since COVID-19, there have been many moments when I thought about giving up and seeking a job that offers more financial and mental security. Obstacles keep rising, and I often ask myself, why do you keep going? There are days when all my effort to make a difference feels like crashing against a wall. It’s not because of the children, but because of what’s happening in public education. What I witness day by day often leaves me confused.

What keeps me going is the belief that if I give up now, I would be letting down not only the children I teach but also those still waiting for their chance. I’ve been a strong supporter of social and emotional learning (SEL) since I began tutoring, and I work with many like-minded educators. In our public education system, those who strive for change often receive little support. Many eventually give up or even leave the profession, exhausted and burned out. I have met many great educators and watched them being transferred or leaving—simply because they thought differently.

For those unfamiliar with Dr. Schleicher: He is director for education and skills at the OECD, and the initiator of Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other international assessments that have created a global platform for innovation in education. UK Secretary of State Michael Gove once called him “the most important man in English education”—even though he is German and lives in France. I find that quite remarkable.

During the webinar, Dr. Schleicher talked about the science behind motivation and connection and how emotional intelligence, combined with the smart and ethical use of technology, can help every student build a successful future.

But here’s the truth: AI can never replace educators. It is a tool for accessing knowledge—but teachers are the ones who build connections and relationships.

SEL provides the tools to achieve emotional intelligence. Many participants raised questions about AI and the future of teaching. But here’s the truth: AI can never replace educators. It is a tool for accessing knowledge—but teachers are the ones who build connections and relationships. They are the ones who lift students up.

To truly prepare children for the future, we must integrate social and emotional learning with knowledge transfer. This will help children combine emotional intelligence with ethical, intelligent use of technology, enabling them to become thoughtful, creative developers of a better, safer world for all. The foundation for this is a continuous improvement in quality and equity in education.

The views in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CASEL.

Elke Landrock is an ESL/EAL consultant and developer of early years language programs. Based in Saxony, Germany, she offers support for in-class mentoring, program adaptation, materials development, and professional collaboration.

Related Posts

• Exchange Keynote—Wired for Connection: The Impact of the Teacher-Student Relationship on Student Well-Being
• Join the Conversation: What’s Being Said About AI in Education and SEL’s Role Alongside it?
• Webinar recap: Emotion Regulation: The Missing Key to Future Readiness—From Classrooms to Careers

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