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During the 2020-21 school year, Aldine ISD will place a premium on student outcomes. The district has created the Social and Emotional Learning and Culture Department to achieve the goal.

Dr. Lorenzo Moore will serve as executive director of the department.

Aldine has undertaken to provide its campuses and district staff with the best practices in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and School Culture. To accomplish this task, the district will implement various systems and support structures for all district staff. Those systems include:

• Creating a systematic approach to understanding SEL activities and methodology of analyzing the activities that leads to the most effective implementation.
• Working with each campus to organize, manage, and acquire resources that will enhance the campus’s ability to create a vibrant environment.
• Provide on-going training, coaching, and consultation with campus administration and staff to sustain their ability to reach their SEL goals. Empower campus SEL leadership and district leadership to create leaders that are capable of providing support to all members of their staff.
• Ensure that campuses create equity in school discipline and are culturally responsive to the needs of all students. Additionally, model relationship-building strategies that will provide students with an inviting climate.
• Provide training to campus personnel in best practices in behavior management strategies that are designed based on the individual needs of the student. Support early intervention on the campus as a consultant to the administrative staff in the area of evidence-based interventions for all students. Provide guidance and facilitate the three-tiered prevention/intervention and behavior supports for all students.

The district’s aim is to align strategies with district priorities with the hiring of Moore and four SEL specialists.

“Not only is there an emphasis on students, but the district realized that building relationships are of paramount importance if we are to shift the culture of the district, which is the centerpiece of SEL,” Moore said. “The district was ahead of the curve when they began to build the SEL Department because of the need for mindfulness practices to help all staff and students deal with some of the stress and anxiety that is evident as a result of COVID-19. The district’s focus on safety and connecting is more evidence that Aldine ISD is forward-thinking and committed to giving all students choices and opportunities.”

The SEL and School Culture specialist will serve as a professional development trainer and coach for campus professionals to implement a common district-wide language and structure associated with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)/Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).