Sign-up as a Beta-Test Participant for Social-Emotional

Learning/Character Leadership Course

If you are a New Jersey school leader or aspiring school leader with familiarity of or interest in social
emotional learning and character development (SEL/SECD) and its application within the Pre-k through
Grade 12 school system, we hope you will consider serving as a beta tester and provide feedback on a
new SEL/SECD Leadership Course being developed. This course is being developed by a team from
Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab and the Academy for SEL in Schools and will
be housed at Rutgers.
The feedback you provide will significantly shape a course that will be offered free of charge to all
educators in New Jersey. Thus, you will have a meaningful role in the expansion of social-emotional and
character development to potentially every school in our state.
The course is a fully asynchronous course located on Rutgers CANVAS system. It is designed to help
participants build a school or district of social-emotional competence and character. The course takes a
whole-school, whole-child approach and uses a building analogy. It consists of 5 content modules, each
of which takes about 1.5 hours to complete, although there are also supplementary activities in each
module to provided added depth if desired. Here is an overview:
Module 1: Becoming a Master Builder-- Unfurling a Blueprint of Vision and Values
Imagine an architect carefully unfurling a blueprint that captures not just the physical structure but the
heart of the school. This plan reflects a clear purpose: a place where SEL, character development, a
supportive school climate, and academics are equally important. The blueprint envisions classrooms
where empathy and cooperation are as integral to as learning math and science, setting the stage for a
school that nurtures the whole child. The leader is ready to start building.
Module 2: Reviewing the Architectural Plans--  Laying the Foundation of Emotional and Academic
Strength
 The foundation of school is built on trust, empathy, and resilience—principles central to SEL/SECD and
academic success. As the concrete sets, it represents the school’s commitment to creating a safe,
supportive space where students—and school leaders-- can explore, challenge themselves, and grow. The
strength of this foundation ensures that every student, regardless of their background, has a secure base
from which to launch their academic and personal development.
Module 3: Starting the Build-- Erecting the Framework of Learning and Character
Steel beams rise, forming the skeleton of classrooms and shared spaces. We look at what is in place and
what needs to be done to create an internal structure of SEL/SECD that is robust and interconnected. This
phase represents creating the supportive framework that ensures every student has the opportunity to
develop SEL/SECD in a caring school context, that is flexible enough to adjust to students' evolving
needs.
Module 4: Ensuring Structural Integrity:  Infusing Life, Academic Learning, and SEL/SECD into the
Building
Through your leadership, the building comes to life as a space that is not just functional but inviting and
inspiring. The color and light and space represent the infusion of SEL/SECD into every lesson,

interaction, and activity. Students here learn academics, build self-awareness, manage emotions, and
develop positive relationships. The classrooms, hallways, and school grounds become places where
students feel seen, valued, and inspired to do their best—academically and personally. This stage is about
creating an environment where SEL/SECD and learning breathe life into one another.
Module 5: Building Bridges of Connections:  Creating Supports and Collaborations and Planning for
Sustainability
In this phase, the school is not an isolated entity but part of a network or a neighborhood of
interconnected institutions. The same applies here, just like the bridges connecting schools within a
district ensure that SEL/SECD instruction recognizes the transitions students make over time.  Schools
that collaborate share resources and learn from one another, creating a unified approach that strengthens
the entire community. These bridges of connections extend beyond the local area to schools facing similar
challenges, offering shared experiences and collaborative problem-solving. The message for SEL/SECD
leadership is clear: learning from and sharing with other builders gives broader understanding and
perspectives and greater insight to nuanced designs and best practices to prepare for future additions to
the building.  No one can do this work alone.
While the modules are meant to be taken consecutively, Beta Testers will be asked to start with the
overview and instructions and then proceed to whichever module (or modules) is of interest. Following
your completion of the beta testing, you will be asked to go to a link and complete an anonymous
feedback survey.
Requirements
 Be a New Jersey school leader or aspiring school leader or be in a leadership role, with interest in
the application of SEL/SECD within schools.
 Have capacity to spend a minimum of 2 hours of time (uncompensated) to review the on-
boarding process and then at least one learning module (of 5)
 Submit final feedback through an on-line survey.
 Able to complete the review by March 15, 2025
Interested?
Use the link below to access the registration form for beta testing. Applications will be accepted until
February 25. Thank you for participating!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddwCLM03tokVwLNj3VfehwDu3Z_G7KDVvys4SBOR29
E4UNkg/viewform?usp=header

Sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), Division of Educational Services, in collaboration
with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 –
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (CFDA# 21.027).