Elmhurst CUSD 205 -

• What is Social Emotional Learning?

• Social Emotional Learning: What is Self-Awareness?

• What is Self Management?

• What is Social Awareness?

• Relationship Skills

• Social Emotional Learning: Responsible Decision Making

Dr. Kevin Rubenstein
Assistant Superintendent for Student Services
Email Dr. Kevin Rubenstein

SEL Mission

The Elmhurst CUSD 205 learning community is strongly committed to developing safe and healthy environments where everyone thrives academically, socially, and emotionally.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in D205 is focused on understanding ourselves and the world around us to encourage lifelong learning. SEL equips all community members with tools for success in their everyday lives.

The adoption of policy to address student social and emotional development took place in 2011. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is defined as the process through which students enhance their ability to integrate thinking, feeling, and behaving to achieve important life tasks. Students competent in SEL are able to recognize and manage their emotions, establish healthy relationships, set positive goals, meet personal and social needs, and make responsible and ethical decisions.

SEL may appear in educational programs consistent with the District’s mission and the goals and benchmarks of the Illinois Learning Standards. The Illinois Learning Standards include three goals for students related to SEL:

1. Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success.

2. Use social-awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships.

3. Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community contexts.

For over ten years, D205 has remained committed to developing social and emotional practices to support our students in each of our schools.

SEL Competencies

Each of the statements aligns with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, & Emotional Learning (CASEL) 5 competencies. CASEL is a global organization that has been committed to evidence-based SEL to support all students’ learning and development for over two decades. More information about CASEL’s mission & vision can be found here. See the CASEL “wheel” below that highlights the 5 competencies. 

• We believe developing Self-Awareness skills will allow us to identify/reflect on our strengths, challenges, and personal identities.

• We believe developing Self-Management skills will allow us to cope, manage, & navigate our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in order to set and reach goals.

• We believe developing Social Awareness skills will allow opportunities to develop empathy to recognize, understand, and appreciate others’ feelings and perspectives.

• We believe developing Relationship Skills within a diverse community will allow us opportunities to connect and collaborate with others, establish meaningful friendships, and support one another.

• We believe developing Responsible Decision-Making skills will allow us to reflect on previous experiences, understand actions and impact, and make choices to improve our community.

SEL in D205

Learn more about social-emotional learning in D205 from Superintendent Dr. Campbell!