Furman’s Upstate Schools Consortium Hosts SEL Series

School leaders from up and down the East coast will converge virtually at Furman University this fall to share innovative strategies and best practices with Upstate educators during a professional development series focused on social and emotional learning (SEL).

Award-winning Atlanta educator Marcus Harden will launch the series in September, followed by North Carolina State University’s Patricia Hilliard and Alex Dreier in October and nationally-known school principal Baruti Kafele in November. View the schedule.

The Upstate Schools Consortium, founded by Furman University and celebrating its 35^th anniversary this year, represents 33 K-12 public school districts, private schools, and universities in the geographic upstate of South Carolina.  Education Department faculty and staff at Furman coordinate professional development opportunities for Consortium members throughout the year to provide administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers the opportunity to hear about the latest research in education.

“As students return to full-time, in-person instruction, it is more important than ever for teachers to be equipped to meet the needs of students who are feeling stressed or experiencing anxiety,” said Upstate Schools Consortium Coordinator and Education Professor Vernon Prosser. “Our education experts will provide strategies for your classroom to improve student behavior, help students manage stress, and assist them in developing higher self-esteem.

“Whether you are an experienced teacher or a first-year teacher, this series will provide you with fresh ideas to address the SEL needs of your students so that they can experience academic success,” he said.

These seminars are free to Furman students, faculty, and alumni and may be viewed live or via recording.  For more information, visit Upstate Schools Consortium on Furman’s website.