A Conversation With Casey O’Brien Martin

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?

Frederick Douglass said that “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” I believe if we focused on SEL and EQ we could positively impact the world in just one generation. Just imagine what our society would be like in twenty years if every child was taught self-awareness, social-awareness, self-management, relationship, and responsible decision-making skills!


Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?

I am so passionate about social-emotional learning because I get to be the person I needed when I was a kid. I was raised, by a single parent who had schizoaffective disorder. The educators around me didn’t realize what I was struggling with. Once I discovered mindfulness, the arts, and the fact that I had the power to change my thoughts and influence my feelings, it was a huge game-changer for me.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?

With standardized testing there is a lot of pressure on educators to focus 100% of class-time on the core subjects which are being tested. A lot of educators feel burnt out and don’t feel like they have a lot of autonomy in designing their own lessons, because they feel like they have to teach to the test.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today?

I think educators truly know the value and power of building positive relationships with children. Most educators I know want to spend time building relationships, and focus on social-emotional learning.

Right now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a chance to pivot in how schools prepare children for the future, we can shift to prioritizing a whole-child perspective, with a larger emphasis on social-emotional learning.

March 29, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

A Conversation with Laura Haver

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
SEL and EQ are some of the most valuable skills in life! Life is a whirlwind. Things are always changing, therefore our ability to regulate our emotions and reactions is a huge advantage. The earlier we can teach these skills to our children, the better off they will be. Plus, they can use these tools to sideswipe needless suffering and learn how to live a mindful and present life. Many of these skills are so simple, yet so effective. I love creating new and fun ways to teach them to kids and families.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?

Anecdote 1:

We are in lockdown. We haven’t left the house for days (except for going outside for walks or to play). I am trying my best to keep my spirits level for my kids and forget about the haunting images of empty shelves- aisle after aisle at the grocery store. I wonder what the boys could be thinking- only last week they were going to school, sports, playdates- anywhere and everywhere! Now we’ve just been home. They can’t even see their grandparents or cousins.

Luckily, they are asleep for the moment. I sit on the couch contemplating life and the weird state of the world. I realize I have two choices- to freak out (which seems easiest and most attractive) or to try to stay present and take it one day at time (which sounds much harder, but probably wiser).

My monkey mind keeps trying its best to pull me into full on panic. Steadfast, I lean into all my meditation practice and keep trying to clear my thoughts. I look around to get grounded. I am safe. My family is safe. We are healthy. We have food to eat and a home for shelter. If things really do hit the fan, do I want to waste my time right now when things are still relatively “good” being worried? That thought rocks me. I choose to move forward amidst the whirlwind of life. Even though most things around me seem to be building up strength, speed and negativity, I commit to doing my best to be present.




The sunlight wakes me up to a new day. The cobwebs of my fear from last night are brushed away. Instead, I am inspired to be present and to be of service. My mind fills with ideas and together with my family, we start the #WeWriteTheStory2020 Challenge. Life is always happening around it. We get to tell the story of our own life. We get to write what we do and how we react. We are grateful that we can help bring play, connection and moments of light to families.

Anecdote 2:
In addition to using my meditation practice for presence, strength and perseverance during the pandemic, I also used my favorite/number one happiness hack- gratitude! In fact, it made a huge difference in our ability to cope with all the changes. You see, for a couple years now we have been asking the boys each night to tell us three new things they are grateful for. This practice alone was crucial in their ability to navigate and work through all of the changes and impacts that COVID has had on their daily lives.

They would tell me things like, “Mom, I’m so glad we have a house,” and “Mom, I’m glad we can still go outside,” even though they hadn’t been at school in months, seen their friends or our extended family. Having been playing what I now created as Game 65: Gratitude Detectives for so long, they had already built the skill of scanning their lives for things to be grateful for. And rather than using their built-in reflex negativity bias that we are all born with, they were rewired to look at life through a gratitude filter.

I am so proud of our dedication to making the practice of gratitude a regular habit in our daily lives, and I am excited to share all my games and ideas with you so you too can help your family boost your overall well-being.


What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
One obvious current challenge is providing a quality education to all K-8 students amidst a global pandemic. And addressing the new stressors. With a variety of schooling options available- ranging from in person to virtual to homeschool- teachers and students face a whole new set of difficulties. The entire landscape of school has changed. Everyone has been forced to into a new situation. We are up against more and new external stressors as we face unprecedented times. Therefore, EQ and SEL training take on added significance, and we are excited to share practical takeaways for educators and parents.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education
(K-8) today? One of the biggest opportunities in education today is to find ways to incorporate more play, mindfulness, and movement into the normal routine. Research shows that kids (and adults) learn faster and easier when they are in a play or flow state. Therefore, by training teachers and educators on simple ways to incorporate these skills into this existing curriculums and structures, we can create an environment primed for learning, inspiration and emotional support.


March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet
Melanie Larkins

A Conversation With Melanie Larkins

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important? I believe these are important because building these skills helps students (and people in general) to thrive in all areas of life. We are able to work with others more effectively, have greater respect for ourselves and others, and build healthier communities. These skills are important for students, and building these skills early in life helps to build more wholehearted adults with positive attitudes. These skills help people succeed and achieve.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career? My role as a high performance coach requires me to use EQ in nearly every interaction. I balance and manage my emotions, listen to others with empathy, communicate with awareness, and build relationships in a way that creates a safe space where my clients are able to move through mental, emotional, and physical blocks. Without being an expert in EQ and using those skills effectively, I would not be able to do my job.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today? I believe that the 2 main challenges in education today are isolation due to COVID and increased access to information. The isolation that many are facing now is a huge shift for the social and family support structures that have been in place for generations. Parents are at home more often and teaching their children, and virtual learning is now the norm for most schools. And, this is true not just in the U.S., but all over the world. There are some children who have not played with or socialized with their peers in over a year, and that is tough. We are social beings and the entire social structure of the world has transformed in a very short period of time.

Increased access to information is a major challenge because there is often a sense of overwhelm that accompanies a search for information. In years past, learning was more confined to the walls of the building with some learning online. Now, there is an abundance of classes, virtual visits, and other resources online which requires more effort to sift through.

What do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today? I think that the biggest opportunities are the isolation due to COVID and the access to information. This isolation period, while challenging, has also led to huge developments in online learning. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators are learning a lot about new technologies and this will transform the face of education forever. In addition, the quarantines have forced most of us to slow down, spend time at home, not travel, and spend much more time with our families than ever before. The bonds that can be built in this environment are long-lasting and strong.

At the same time, because of this pandemic many organizations have opened up virtual access to information (such as the Library of Congress), visits, and even performances. What an amazing learning opportunity! Students who may have never been able to see the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam can use the Google Street View Tour to have an experience almost as if they were there in person. I am not sure that these sorts of visits and tools would have been developed ever, or at least so quickly and generally free of charge to access, if not for the pandemic. I believe there is a silver lining in everything.

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

A Conversation With McKenna Reitz

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important? Social and emotional learning provides a foundation for a safe and positive learning environment that in turn enhances the students’ ability to succeed in school, careers, and life. Not only does SEL improve achievement, but it also increases prosocial behaviors, attitude toward school while also reducing depression and stress among students.
SEL improves students’ self-awareness, social awareness, management skills, social relationships and how to make more sound choices in school and social situations. Students with high levels of emotional intelligence are able to better manage themselves and relate to other around them. This can help them improve their self-motivation and become a more effective communicator which will result in being a more confident learner.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career? On of my favorite quotes is, “The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” Especially as teachers, there is so many variables that we can’t control such as online/hybrid learning, the students on our roster, or the curriculum that we have to cover. Stop putting so much energy in to the variables we can’t control rather put more focus on what we do have control over and that is our mindset about those variables. It is our responsibility to exemplify versatility especially to students K-8 when it comes to how we manage our emotions towards variables that are within or not within our control.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today? I believe one of the toughest challenges facing K-8 education today is the differences of social, emotional, and cognitive abilities that are being seen within the classroom. Teachers have students all over the spectrum when it comes to each of those areas yet they must have all of the students ready for when it comes to state assessments. How is a teacher suppose to have every students who all come from very different backgrounds to be at the very same place for testing? I also believe the teachers are challenged by the instant gratification that has taken over our society and their students do not have the patience any more to take their time to learn something or solve a math problem. The definition of hard work has completely changed over the years.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today? By far, one of the biggest opportunities in education is the accessibility to both information and technology. This has allowed for higher levels of cognitive processing to occur while also helping teachers differentiate curriculum for their students that are across the spectrum.

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

A Conversation With Deepak Sharma

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important? I believe that SEL and EQ are the most important skills to develop in a child as they directly correlate to the child’s level of happiness and success. We are always constantly striving to take action in our lives to generate a feeling as the end result. When it’s clearly understood how to manage your emotions you are able to understand your true power and potential.


Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career? Understanding the importance of self awareness and how self management have radically changed my life where today I feel as though I am in complete control of life. Prior to understanding these concepts life was full of up’s and down’s. Now it is only heading in the upward direction.


What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today? I believe the main challenge is that we do not focus children on communicating and building relationships in school. I believe this is the single most important factor to a child’s happiness and their success. The lack of social skills/relationshisp can lead a child to feelings of loneliness that drive anxiety and sadness. This must be addressed in school rather than expecting children to figure it out on their own. It’s too critical!


Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today? I see challenges and opportunities as one in the same. I believe focusing on the social aspects will provide the biggest boost to children in their education and future success.

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

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!

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

A Conversation With Kelsey Low

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
EQ is foundational work for feeling a sense of purpose & freedom. Without understanding our emotional framework and tools to process them, we end up avoiding them all together or lashing out on the people we love. EQ is one of the most empowering things I have learned, especially being an empathetic and sensitive woman. I am very hard working and realized how easily I was focusing out on work & family in avoidance of my own emotional turmoil and upset. EQ gives people the tools to process, regulate & DECIDE the emotional state they would like to dwell in.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?
I joke that I am a recovering procrastinator and people pleaser. I used to outsource so much of my joy and happiness by doing things for other people. I didn’t realize how closed off I was because of pain, regret or disappointment I was harboring. I attended an immersive Leadership & EQ Training that allowed me to see how worthy I am of taking up space, of starting even when I feel shaky, of taking the reins in my own life. The biggest part of EQ that has been transformational for me is learning to forgive and process past mistakes and love myself anyways. I learned how powerful it is to give AND receive. Receiving is like a muscle and for the person who finds joy in giving, it requires practice to let other people experience that joy of giving (especially when the giving is directed towards you). EQ has also sent me down a road of using tools like meditation and journaling on a day to day basis to create personal alignment with my actions and core values.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
– The lack of education around mindfulness and self regulation
– The intensity and pressure around grades versus self expression

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today?
– Open conversations around progress over perfection
– Boundaries with tech/cellphones/screens and reconnecting to the world around us in a mindful way

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

A Conversation With Niki Spears

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
Taking care of our emotional and mental well-being is essential to our overall health. Having a positive attitude and feeling empowered to take responsibility for our lives and tackle the struggles before us will help us focus on energy on what we can do rather than what we can’t. It is easy to become overwhelmed, frustrated, and depressed when there is so much change in our lives, committing to practices that will help to recharge and renew the mind will provide us with the energy we need to create our masterpiece.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?

As a young girl I struggled with negative, worrisome thoughts and didn’t know how to escape these unfavorable judgements about myself, others, and the world. Once I began the practice of changing the negative stories I had been telling myself and transforming my inner dialogue into more positive speech, I began to see my world change. Instead of focusing on what I perceived as negative, I began to place my attention on the positive and I observed the good things expand in my life. In my new book, The Beauty Underneath the Struggle ~Creating Your B.U.S Story, I share with readers how to embrace struggles as wonderful opportunities to connect with your purpose. We are the ones who give meaning to people and events around us, therefore we can create a positive experience or a negative one – the choice is ours.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
One of the main challenges in our schools today is creating and sustaining positive culture. Because culture starts first in the mind, educators must be aware that each person that enters their building/classroom has their own personal goals, values, and perceptions of the world. In order to create a safe, positive learning environment that supports and values all people, we become more aware of how our own thoughts, values, and beliefs impact our personal growth and success as well those we serve (students and families). Being able to embrace an open mindset will provide educators with the opportunity to see and experience the world through a variety of lenses that will lead to more innovative ways to address many of the challenges in our schools.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today? Student Leadership and Teacher Leadership. Leadership extends beyond a title or a position, it is taking 100% responsibility for your ideas, choices, and behaviors. Imagine for a moment a world in which there was very little blaming and complaining, and people who actually took responsibility for the problems they see around them. Developing a leadership mindset in schools, will not only encourage leaders and educators to feel empowered to make change, but will also encourage students as young as five years of age to do the same.

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet

A Conversation With Jennifer Watson

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
EQ is so vital to us as humans. It is connected to our identity development and ultimate impact on the world. Without E.I. the child/young adult will demonstrate decrease ability to be adversity/stress tolerant, decrease ability to adapt to ever-changing environments, diminish creativity, increase resistance to connection & learning, lack of clarity & effective action and
ultimately lack of purpose. Without purpose our drive and hope diminish and so does the person’s impact. IMPACT is one of our basic human needs…to use our gifts to serve the world.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?
I have my own story of “darkness.” I suffered debilitating depression as a young adult that ultimately left me in a state of hopelessness and despair. Through working with an amazing team of coaches/leaders/practitioners I was able to find my Emotional Intelligence, fan it powerfully and ultimately create IMPACT with my unique gifts. I have taken my journey into the work I do today as a coach and speaker. At the core of my programs is amplifying your unique E.I. and with that have seen powerful shifts in my clients. By amplifying their unique E.I. they have learned “filter through the noise” and adversity quickly and shift into powerfully using their gifts to create IMPACT now! It is truly beautiful to watch.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
Mental Wellness as well as Self-Identity are often not effectively addressed in schools. This leads to poor communication, low socialization skills as well as inability to process emotions or implement effective tools to rise during adversity.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today?
Kids want to LEARN, they want to get it and ultimately achieve. Their brains are growing and creating new neuro-connections every day. They just need the right stimulus! This is such a prime opportunity to give them tools. Implementing Emotional Intelligence opportunities into every classroom can be done. When this happens we will see their Mental Edge, their
Leadership and their beautiful LEGACY be CO-CREATED with teacher and parent!

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet
Douglas Yau

A Conversation With Dr. Douglas Yau

Why do you believe SEL and EQ are important?
Emotional intelligence is a set of skills that helps you understand and regulate your own emotions, read other people’s emotions and build relationships. Characteristics such as leadership, empathy and grit are formed based on high EQ. Success in workforce has been found to be attributed more to EQ than IQ, and this skill set is ranked as one of the top competencies sought after by hiring managers.

Do you have any personal anecdotes about how SEL/EQ has brought you success in your personal life/career?
As a people manager, having a high EQ has allowed me to better connect with my team members, tactfully manage conflict, and lead them to success. In working with clients, I have leveraged my EQ to read their emotions while working on projects and build strong and long lasting relationships. Finally as a parent, having a high EQ enabled me to regulate my own emotions during these uncertain times, understand the emotions of my kids and teach them how to manage their frustrations, and form deeper connections with them with each passing day.

What do you believe to be one or two of the main challenges in education (K-8) today?
The education system was unprepared for remote learning as a result of COVID. The challenge was to replicate teaching, classwork and learning for both teachers and kids who were unfamiliar with the technology. Additionally, the social connection between kids, especially in the lower grades, that typically happen organically in the classroom did not occur under the current remote learning program.

Conversely, what do you believe to be one or two of the biggest opportunities in education (K-8) today?
The biggest opportunity for education today is modernize and adopt new ways of teaching and leveraging diverse remote learning platforms as hybrid learning is here to stay.

March 1, 2021 Education, Remote Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Social Emotional Learning No comments yet
Skip to content
This Website is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilitiesWe are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Conformance status
Developed by
"