Veteran superintendent and nationally recognized leader in social and emotional learning brings decades of experience to CASEL’s next chapter
CHICAGO – Today, leading education nonprofit the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) announced the appointment of Dr. Sheldon Berman as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 27, 2026.
A nationally respected educator, author, and advocate, Dr. Berman brings nearly three decades of district leadership and a lifelong commitment to advancing social and emotional learning for students, educators, and families. A veteran superintendent of four diverse school districts, he has also shaped the field as AASA’s Lead Superintendent for Social-Emotional Learning and through his work with the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA).
Dr. Berman takes this role upon the departure of Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel, who led CASEL through a period of unprecedented growth and transformation as the organization supported educators, students, and families through the challenges of the pandemic and unprecedented upheavals in education policy and funding.
“Dr. Berman is exactly the leader I’d want to see guiding CASEL as I transition away from this work, “ said Dr. Samuel, who departs CASEL after nearly five years in the role of CEO. “He is a champion of social and emotional learning, a visionary leader, and brings a depth of expertise about how to translate CASEL’s vision into action.”
CASEL co-founder and Board Chair Dr. Timothy Shriver said, “CASEL has benefitted immeasurably from Dr. Samuel’s contribution and leadership, and I am grateful that my longtime colleague and friend, Dr. Shelley Berman, has agreed to lead our movement in this interim period. He brings a wealth of experience in education and social and emotional learning, as well as a passion for ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that serves the whole child.”
A prolific scholar and thought leader, Dr. Berman also brings unparalleled expertise in both the research and practice of social and emotional learning. The author of numerous articles and five books on social and emotional learning, ethics, and social responsibility, he was a member of the Council of Distinguished Educators for the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, where he served as the primary author of the Commission’s influential practice report, The Practice Base for How We Learn: Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, and Academic Development.
“As a long-time admirer of and participant in CASEL’s work, I am honored to support the organization as it moves toward the next phase in its work,” said Dr. Berman. “Over its more than 30 years, CASEL has built a strong foundation of research, guidance, and advocacy that has benefitted countless students and educators. I’m eager to help sustain and build upon that foundation as we pursue the next steps in CASEL’s critical mission to bring social and emotional learning to all students.”
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CASEL is a nonpartisan, nonprofit that founded the field of social and emotional learning. Today, we collaborate with leading experts and districts, schools, and states nationwide to drive research, guide practice, and inform policy.
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Dr. Sheldon Berman served as a superintendent in Hudson, MA; Jefferson County (Louisville), KY; Eugene, OR; and Andover, MA—where he implemented systemic SEL programs. He has also served as AASA’s Lead Superintendent for Social-Emotional Learning and has worked with the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA), authoring the report: From compliance to invitation: Lessons in improving attendance in eleven Oregon school districts.
His numerous books and articles include Implementing Social-Emotional Learning: Insights from Districts’ Successes and Setbacks. He was also the primary author of the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development’s SEL practice report, The Practice Base for How We Learn: Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, and Academic Development.
Awards include the 2003 Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year Award, the 2011 Sanford McDonnell Award for Lifetime Achievement in Character Education, recognition in 2011 by the AASA for work as a leader of school desegregation, CASEL’s 2020 Mary Utne O’Brien Award, and AASA’s Distinguished Service Award for lifetime contribution to the field in 2022.
