Navigating SEL in a Polarized Climate

Many families and educators want students to leave school ready to work with others, speak up for themselves, and handle real-world challenges. These are not extra skills - they are essential for life after graduation, whether a student chooses college, a job, the military, or something else.

Jill Cook, Executive Director of the American School Counselor Association, spoke with AIT at the 2024 California Association of School Counselors conference about the barriers counselors face in teaching these skills. Even saying “social and emotional learning” is discouraged or restricted in some parts of the country. This puts counselors in a tough spot. They are asked to help students grow in ways everyone agrees are important, but sometimes must do so without naming the work directly.

Instead of giving up, counselors have adapted. They might call these lessons “life skills” or “student standards.” The name changes, but the purpose stays the same. Counselors still teach students to manage emotions, work in teams, and make good decisions. The research is clear: students who learn these skills are more resilient and better prepared for life after high school.

The challenge is even greater for students who are most at risk, like LGBTQ youth and students of color. These students face higher rates of mental health concerns and suicide attempts. When policies limit explicit support, counselors look for other ways to let students know they are not alone. Sometimes this means working quietly within the rules, sometimes it means finding creative ways to offer support.

Educators and counselors often take on this work because they care deeply about helping students succeed. When new rules or politics make it harder to do their jobs, many respond by finding new paths forward. They build relationships, find allies, and keep looking for ways to help students feel seen and supported.

What stands out is the persistence and commitment of school counselors. No matter what the rules say, they keep showing up for students. They know that helping students build real-life skills is not about a label or a buzzword. It is about making sure every student has the tools they need to succeed, even when the path is not straightforward.

For more resources and support, the American School Counselor Association offers guidance at schoolcounselor.org.

---

Transcript:

Navigating SEL in a Polarized Climate

"I would like to think there isn’t a family member who doesn’t want their student to have the ability to work in groups, advocate for themselves, or learn the skills that are important for life after high school—whether that’s a job, college, apprenticeships, internships, or the military.

These are student standards that students need to know and be able to do.

School counselors work with students on academic development, career development, and social and emotional development. In some places across the country, the term “social and emotional” isn’t one that’s okay to use. One of the challenges school counselors have faced is: How can we do this work when we can’t say that or can’t do that?

What we’re really talking about are skills that we want all students to have.

So, counselors have learned to advocate for how to do the work, sometimes calling it something else. They learn to work within the barriers that have been put up, and in states where it’s not okay to support all students.

It’s not okay to support LGBTQ youth—who we know are in our schools and who have the highest incidences of mental health concerns and suicide attempts, particularly LGBTQ+ students of color. But school counselors are learning how to navigate those policies so they can still be there for students.

That’s another challenge we’re seeing across the country: all educators are here because they want to help and support students. Sometimes, when things are imposed to try and prevent them from doing that work, they remain such strong advocates and continue to find ways to be there for their kids."

-Jill Cook, CAE