A contingent of educators from Warsaw Community School Corporation pose for a photograph in New York City during the Learning And The Brain conference.

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools staff recently attended the Learning & The Brain conference in New York City to continue developing the district’s work in advancing Social Emotional Learning for all students. The conference connects educators with the latest research on the brain and learning and its implications for education. In addition, the conference provided professional development to WCSC educators, administrative staff, clinicians and counselors.

“We are very thankful to continue the WCS development of Social Emotional Learning,” said Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “Our goals include all employees being able to identify students in crisis, development of an SEL curriculum within our core curriculum and the strategic alignment of resources to support student SEL needs. The team attending the Learning And The Brain conference was able to learn from some of the foremost researchers in the educational SEL field. This group is excited to bring this learning back to WCS as we continue forward in the initiative.”

Several staff members attended the conference representing a variety of interests in the SEL field for Warsaw Community Schools. Attendees included Hoffert; Heather Reichenbach, school board president; Kevin Roberts, Grace College associate dean and professor for the School of Behavioral Sciences; Jeanine Corson, director of human resources; Luisa Davis, co-director of school counseling; Tracey Akers, nurse coordinator; Krista Polston, grants and special projects coordinator; Jennifer Gunder, Claypool Elementary School fifth grade teacher; Krista Dausman, Leesburg Elementary School special education teacher; Dawn Eckert, Madison and Claypool Elementary school MHT; and Gina Courtois, Social Emotional Learning coordinator.

“A priority in WCS’s strategic plan, student and staff well-being continues to become embedded in the way we teach, learn and relate with one another,” said Reichenbach. “Attending Learning and the Brain with this diverse, representative group from WCS leverages our current district expertise with important conversations, new ideas, and latest research. It is an honor to be part of a Warsaw Community Schools – a school district which prioritizes social-emotional well-being as foundational for successful student growth, development, and academic achievement.”