School Culture and Well-being

Research shows that experiences such as trauma, barriers to opportunity, food insecurity, and domestic instability cause stress and impair brain development, challenging a child’s ability to learn. That’s why school culture and well-being are foundational to our work. We stand alongside educators and students, empowering them to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, express empathy, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Why This Matters

  • 90% of our students have endured at least one adverse childhood experience that affects the structure of the brain and hinders learning
  • Historical bias and systemic inequities lead to chronic stress in children
  • Investments in social emotional learning have been shown to reverse the effect of childhood trauma
  • Studies show that social emotional learning practices have been linked to an 11 percentile point gain in student achievement

School Culture and Well-being Impact

1,000

educators trained in SEL practices

95%

of educators report that our trainings significantly improve their teaching practice

6,000

wellness guides shared with families during COVID

3,000

back-to-school educator wellness gifts delivered

Prioritizing Principals 

The Prioritizing Principals Project initiative provides support to improve both personal and occupational well-being. Monthly wellness offerings, like meditation, idea sharing, and collective headspace, help principals lead with resilience and clarity, creating healthier school environments for students and staff. 

Culture Corps

Campuses participating in Culture Corps strengthen school climate through sustained SEL integration, data-driven coaching, and campus-wide practices that build belonging and culture. The program offers differentiated supports for both staff and students, including student leadership opportunities through Culture Champions at select campuses.

Culture Champions

Culture Champions is a student leadership program that develops skills in elementary students through six interactive sessions focused on confidence, empathy, collaboration, and advocacy. The program culminates in students facilitating an activity with a younger classroom, giving them an opportunity to lead, mentor, and model positive behavior for their peers. Through Culture Champions, United to Learn helps schools build a culture of belonging and student voice.

Educator Wellness

Campuses receive annually two on-site wellness experiences (such as breathwork, sound baths, fitness, or massage therapy) to foster sustainable habits and staff well-being. 

Sprinkles of SEL

Listen to our podcast, Sprinkles of SEL. This is a podcast about social emotional learning (SEL), wellness, neuroscience, and healthy habits for educators and anyone in the education space. Streaming on all platforms.

PODCAST

Thank you for the incredible training you gave us today! In COVID times, this session with United to Learn allowed us to stop and think of one another while also pushing harder to provide equity for students. I can’t tell you how much of a difference this made

Dr. Sandra Barrios
Dallas ISD Executive Director

To learn more, contact our School Culture and Well-being Team at [email protected].