Students to receive tools on how to cope, deal and manage their time
By Tiffany Huertas
A Texas school district is launching a comprehensive social and emotional learning program this school year to support students academically, socially and emotionally.
Pleasanton Independent School District (Pleasanton ISD) has introduced a districtwide social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed to help students recognize and manage their emotions, develop empathy, build stronger relationships, and improve time-management and problem-solving skills.
“It’s going to give kids the tools to help them be successful. How to cope. How to deal. How to manage their time,” said Megan Stuart, a school counselor at Pleasanton Junior High School, describing the practical focus of the new SEL lessons.
As the new school year begins, Pleasanton ISD is prioritizing students’ social and emotional health alongside academic goals. The district’s SEL initiative aims to create a supportive environment where students can express feelings, practice healthy coping strategies, and build communication skills that help both in and out of the classroom.
Stuart emphasized that the program helps students handle real-life situations, equipping them with practical techniques to face challenges. That includes teaching students how to identify emotions, self-regulate, and ask for help when needed.
“Especially after the pandemic, kids were isolated, kids were at home and now they are coming back to school. They have to readjust socially. This program really does help kids talk to their teachers, talk to their peers,” Stuart added, noting the value of SEL in helping students reengage with their school community following extended disruptions.
The district has adopted the 7 Mindsets curriculum as the foundation for its SEL efforts. According to Venus Vela, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, the curriculum will be used across all grade levels, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Vela reported that the district invested more than $40,000 in the curriculum. Those resources came from federal elementary and secondary relief funds allocated to support student needs during recovery and renewal efforts.
Staff preparation has been an important part of the rollout. School personnel, including seventh-grade teacher Lynette Thornton, have received training to implement the lessons and integrate SEL concepts into daily classroom routines.
Thornton said the curriculum helps students understand how much control they have over their responses to events. “It does give the kids the tools to understand that they can control how they feel about situations. It’s not what happens to them, but how they deal with it,” she explained.
Classroom activities will encourage students to share and reflect on their emotions. In many classes, students will have opportunities to write down how they feel, which supports emotional awareness and healthy expression.
School leaders expect that, as the curriculum is fully implemented over the next two to three years, students will become more confident advocates for themselves. Counselors and teachers anticipate improvements in student ownership of learning, stronger self-advocacy skills, and greater pride in personal achievement.
By integrating SEL into daily instruction, Pleasanton ISD aims to support academic outcomes by addressing the emotional and social needs that influence learning. The district’s approach reflects a growing emphasis in education on whole-child development—helping students cultivate both the academic skills and interpersonal strengths needed to succeed in school and beyond.
Parents and community members are encouraged to learn about the program through school communications and to reinforce social-emotional skills at home. As Pleasanton ISD moves forward with the 7 Mindsets curriculum, district staff will monitor progress and adapt instruction to meet students’ evolving needs.
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