[Principals' Conference] Swipe, Scroll, Survive: Life Skills Gen Z Can’t Google to Embed in the Classroom

Overview

[Principals' Conference - by Invitation Only] In this talk, Devi will talk about why and how we need to build Social Emotional Learning as the foundation, and not just another initiative in education.

The Problem: Initiative Overload in Schools

Schools today are inundated with well-meaning and essential programmes:
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
- Academic recovery and acceleration
- College and career readiness
- Athletics and extracurriculars

Each of these efforts requires staff time, professional development, curriculum space, and emotional labour. When implemented in silos, they can:
- Compete for attention, causing burnout and confusion.
- Lack alignment, making it hard to see progress or impact.
- Fragment student experience, leading to inconsistent support.

The Solution: SEL as a Foundational Framework

Instead of viewing SEL as an ‘add-on’, we must frame it as the foundation upon which all other efforts can build.

When SEL is fully integrated:
- PBIS becomes more than behaviour management — it becomes about emotional regulation and empathy.
- DEIB efforts deepen — students are equipped to listen, reflect, and engage in respectful dialogue.
- Academic success becomes more attainable — students can manage stress, persist through challenges, and work collaboratively.
- Sports and extracurriculars become character-building — fostering teamwork, leadership, and grit.