Key Points
Back to top- When a school was struck by fire, its principal turned to SEL to move beyond survival to healing and long-term thriving.
- Bringing SEL to her school brought so much more than recovery from a traumatic event; it rebuilt the culture and practices of the school.
- Based on her experience, she shares 3 actionable strategies for schoolwide SEL.
Some moments split your life into before and after. For me, that moment was November 10, 2009.
As the principal of Marysville K-8 School in Portland, Oregon, I started the day like any other—until the fire alarm sounded. Within minutes, thick smoke filled the halls. Flames blocked exits. The building was on fire.
Panic set in, but our staff acted with incredible bravery. Teachers guided students through smoke-filled corridors. Staff ran back inside to check for missing children. Once we reunited outside and confirmed everyone was safe, relief swept over me. We had survived. But surviving was only the beginning.
Up From the Ashes With SEL
Back to topThe fire devastated our building. For over three years, we operated out of a former, long-vacant school five miles away. The relocation was tough—but it offered us something rare: a reset. That reset led us to social and emotional learning (SEL).
At first, we assumed a student-centered SEL program would be enough. But we quickly realized real healing would take more than classroom lessons. It would require a transformation—from how we led to how we lived.
As I grew personally through mindfulness, therapy, and reflection, my leadership began to shift. We wove SEL into everything: staff meetings, classroom routines, even our transitions. We chose community over curriculum, relationships before rigor.
And it worked.
- Office referrals dropped by 75 percent.
- Suspensions were nearly cut in half.
- Teacher retention improved.
- We became the highest performing Title I school in our district in math and reading.
Our story was even featured in a local news segment, showing how SEL and mindfulness helped us rise from the ashes.
Why SEL Matters Now More Than Ever
Most schools won’t face a literal fire. But many are burning in other ways.
Educator burnout is at an all-time high. Student behavior challenges are rising. The pandemic didn’t just disrupt learning—it exposed deep cracks in how schools function.
SEL isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a must-have. But it can’t be a single lesson or a weeklong initiative. SEL must become the fabric of the school—woven into routines, relationships, and leadership decisions.
3 Actionable Strategies for Schoolwide SEL
Back to topMost educators believe in SEL. But I often hear the same question: “Where do we start?” Here are three strategies we utilized at Marysville to build a strong, sustainable SEL foundation—for both students and the adults who serve them.
1. Start With the Adults
The emotional climate of a school is shaped by its adults. If we want students to develop empathy and resilience, educators need to model those skills. But that’s nearly impossible if teachers are overwhelmed and unsupported.
Systemic support matters. At Marysville, we carved out time for mindfulness, open conversation, and connection. We did breathwork before PLCs, gratitude circles after hard days, and hallway check-ins that became moments of care.
When staff felt supported, everything shifted. The culture moved from compliance to connection. People didn’t just show up—they showed up well.
2. Anchor SEL in Weekly and Daily Practice
Just as a thriving ecosystem depends on regular nourishment, so does a healthy school culture. Setting aside a consistent weekly time—30 to 45 minutes—for dedicated SEL isn’t a luxury; it’s a foundational practice. Just like we schedule time for math and reading, we must schedule time for SEL.
This weekly space can be used to deliver your core student SEL curriculum, explore mindfulness, build connection through circles, or reflect on current challenges as a community. When done well, this dedicated time becomes the heart of your week—a reset, a recharge, and a reminder of what matters most.
3. Build an Ecosystem of Care
Creating a thriving SEL culture isn’t about checking off a curriculum box—it’s about cultivating an entire ecosystem of care. That means embedding SEL into every layer of the school community, from classroom routines to leadership decisions.
This includes how we welcome families into the process as care doesn’t stop at the school door. It also means tending to the physical and sensory environments where learning happens. We painted calming colors, brought in natural elements, and even chose furniture that invited comfort. This attention to environment wasn’t fluff—it was foundational. Because when a space feels good, people show up differently.
Final Reflection
Back to topWe definitely didn’t ask for our school to burn down. But in the ashes, we found opportunity. The opportunity to rebuild not just with brick and mortar, but with heart and humanity.
Building this kind of ecosystem takes time, but it starts with one intentional choice at a time. Think climate, not curriculum. Think community, not compliance. That’s how we grow a school where everyone can thrive.
The views in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CASEL.
Lana Penley, M.Ed., is a former principal, co-founder of her company Unlocking SEL, and a passionate champion of social and emotional learning. A recognized thought leader in the field of SEL implementation, Penley led a schoolwide transformation that became a model for how intentional SEL practices can drive lasting change. She is the author of Unlocking SEL: The 5 Keys to Transform Your School Through Social and Emotional Learning, which debuted as the #1 New Release on Amazon in both Classroom Management and Educational Psychology. When she’s not supporting schools, you can find her on the pickleball court, embracing fun and connection wherever she goes.
Related Posts:
- Heal a School: How a Lifetime in Education Became a Global Mentorship Journey
- From Vision to Reality: Schoolwide SEL at a California Elementary School
- Community Schools: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
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