Professional Development? Start with SESL.

Many people have reached out over the last month, asking the same question as they prepare for the new school year: What should we focus on in our professional development?

There are countless options on the table- seminars on how to teach about Israel in its ever-shifting conflict; workshops on confronting antisemitism; updated strategies for classroom management.

These are all critically important areas.  And educators and leaders certainly benefit from new learning and resources to navigate them.

But here’s the thing: We can’t have these conversations-  let alone lead or teach them productively- without social, emotional, and spiritual skills.

Social, emotional, and spiritual learning (SESL) isn’t a “nice to have.”  It’s the foundation.  If we want our classrooms and our communities to be places where people can show up with courage, compassion, and clarity, SESL must come first.

So what does it look like when SESL is a priority and is intentionally taught, modeled, and practiced?

It looks like educators who know how to regulate their own emotions before responding to a challenging student.

It looks like school leaders who create space for staff to process fear, confusion, and grief- before jumping into logistics and strategy.

It looks like teams who can sit in discomfort together, who have the tools to listen deeply, ask better questions, and stay grounded even when the conversation gets hard.

When SESL is integrated into professional development, we aren’t just training teachers; we are cultivating resilience, empathy, and moral clarity in our schools and communities.

We’re building the capacity to hold multiple truths, to teach with integrity, and to lead with heart.

And perhaps most importantly, we are modeling for our students what it looks like to be fully human in complex times.

So yes, of course, teach about Israel. Address antisemitism. Revisit your classroom management strategies. But also make sure your educators have the social, emotional, and spiritual skills and support to do that work well.

Because without SESL, even the best professional development and learning can’t be applied in a meaningful or lasting way.  And in the end, that’s what we are all striving for- to create learning experiences that are impactful and which allow all of us and our students to grow and thrive.