Online, Offline, and Beyond: Skill-Building Strategies for Digital Well-Being

As director of curriculum, Stefani Kauppila leads the team responsible for the vision and strategy behind Committee for Children’s innovative social-emotional learning (SEL) programs. Detail-oriented and a problem-solver by nature, Stefani sees issues through both a microscopic and telescopic lens. “I’ve always found big, hairy problems enticing,” she says. “But it’s by having an open mind, being willing to listen, and accepting some failure that I have learned to drive solutions with the greatest impact.” Stefani was drawn to Committee for Children’s research-based approach and its vision of safe children thriving in a just and peaceful world. She previously worked as an elementary and middle school teacher before developing web-based mathematics curricula at DreamBox Learning. It was there that she discovered a talent for designing learning experiences in technological environments, and a passion for leading teams and forming partnerships with educators and families. Stefani says her SEL superpower is building positive relationships. She believes it’s important to keep the big picture in mind without losing sight of the needs of individuals. “I call it benevolent friction, where you’re hard on ideas and soft on people,” she says. “Strong, trusting relationships will lead to more impactful conversations that help us reach the best solutions for our clients, our products, and the world.” Stefani holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s in teaching from Seattle University. She earned a certificate in women’s leadership and is on the board of advisors of the Tombolo Institute at Bellevue College’s Design Thinking Program. Stefani is also the author of two children’s books, Share Fairies: You’re a Big Kid Now and Share Fairies: Get Schooled in Sharing.

Jordan Posamentier has made policy and advocacy the heart and soul of his work at Committee for Children, both as the first director of policy and advocacy and now as vice president of policy and advocacy. Before joining Committee for Children, Jordan was a New York City public school teacher, the legislative counsel to the California Judges Association, the director of legislative analysis at StudentsFirst, and the deputy policy director at the University of Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education. In his position as VP of policy and advocacy, Jordan works at all levels—local, state, federal, and international—to advance policy for equitable and effective SEL. He collaborates with many partners along the way, and throughout the pandemic, Jordan and his team have been committed to ushering forward federal relief legislation that prioritizes SEL. Jordan earned his JD from the University of Houston, his MS in education from Queens College (CUNY), and his BA in human ecology from College of the Atlantic. He believes Committee for Children embodies a rare and virtuous feedback loop where research, policy, and practice all work together to improve one another to the betterment of the children we serve and hope to serve.

Karina Raun is the Senior Marketing Manager at Committee for Children has over 10 years of experience working with K-12 organizations focused on making a positive impact on student learning. Her expertise includes digital marketing strategies across all channels and working closely with thought leaders in the field to develop and distribute resources and content for educators to strengthen teaching and learning practices. At Committee for Children, Karina leads a team of exceptional marketers who develop external communications, content, and webinars to support our Second Step K-12 digital programs and physical kits.