A Conversation With Milly Chacko

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
Social emotional skills and emotional intelligence are important because they are the underlying factor on our happiness level in all areas of our lives. We often strive to achieve what we think is success but end up not feeling satisfied. I believe understanding the inner workings of our mind & learning social emotional skills allows us to know ourselves better. When that happens, we begin to see what success looks like for us as unique individuals. It also improves achievement, productivity, confidence, physical health, and relationships. We begin to be more responsive & thoughtful instead of reactive. Possessing social emotional skills & emotional intelligence offers us the edge we need to continue in the face of challenges and adversities that inevitably occur in life because we understand our intrinsic value.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?
All areas of my life have improved since I learned about & integrated social emotional skills & emotional intelligence. I spent many years teaching something I did not believe in. I did not want to put students in a box with so many labels & conditions on them limiting them in their ability to believe they could achieve more. I did not know what else I could do so I decided to incorporate SEL & EQ into my life as a special education teacher in whatever way I could. Instead of reacting to my limits, I decided to use what I learned to open myself up to different possibilities within what I was already doing. Now I am teaching a class in what I believe in!!! I am teaching students they are limitless in their abilities and imparting them with skills in social emotional learning, so they know how to respond to life from a place of confidence in themselves.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
One of the main challenges in education today is the disconnect between all the different parts of the school system. The teachers, school administrators, district level, state level, and then national level. The other challenge is the lack of emotional & physical wellness as a part of the curriculum with as much importance as academic. Lastly, the standardized testing limits the ability of teachers to do the job that they are tasked with.


Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today?
With the dawn of virtual teaching, there is an opportunity to incorporate more technologically advanced ideas & resources into the curriculum & classroom.
The current climate is also highlighting the need for social emotional learning & mindfulness in schools to help cultivate the emotional needs of children & staff. There is an opportunity to bring emotional intelligence to not only students, their families, and teachers; there is also the opportunity to bring the benefits of SEL, EQ, and Mindfulness to district, state, and national level individuals to bring a more cohesive interconnectedness throughout the school system. Just imagine the possibilities!