curriculum decisions, partnerships with higher education and major employers, and in how students experience STEM learning during the school day rather than through optional after-school programming. At the same time, district leaders emphasize that a “whole child” approach—mental health supports, social-emotional learning, and safe campuses—is foundational to students’ academic and professional success. As Superintendent Dr. Ken Oertling, St. Charles Parish Public Schools, frames it, the district’s purpose begins with a simple promise: “to provide highquality educational opportunities for every student that really empowers them to become enthusiastic, lifelong learners and positive contributors to our local economy, parish, region, state, and country,” Dr. Oertling says. INVESTING IN EMOTIONAL READINESS St. Charles Parish Public Schools has made a districtwide commitment to social emotional learning (SEL) and student wellness—an area Dr. Oertling describes as increasingly urgent as student needs evolve. While the district has long supported SEL instruction in the early grades, leadership recognized the need for a more consistent, systemwide approach. “We have really doubled down on our focus and investment in social emotional well-being, social emotional learning,” Dr. Oertling explains. A key step was adopting a unified SEL framework across all grade levels. “This past year, we actually adopted the 7 Mindsets Curriculum that’s common in nature and language from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade,” Dr. Oertling notes, creating shared language and expectations across schools. The strategy extends beyond curriculum to include staffing, school culture, and early identification of students who may need support.“All of our schools are staffed with mental health professionals,” Dr. Oertling says. Schools also utilize wellness teams and dedicated spaces for both students and staff. A central component is an annual student screening originally developed with LSU’s medical community. “Many times, there are silent sufferers,” Dr. Oertling 251 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 ST. CHARLES PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx