Roots of Empathy featured as one of OUSD’s Social and Emotional Learning Programs

18 January 2013: Mary Gordon was featured today in a panel discussion on social and emotional learning (SEL) programs, to discuss the Oakland Unified School District’s (OUSD) adoption of the Roots of Empathy program.

In "Teaching Social and Emotional Learning" on KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny, Gordon was joined by Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith and Vicki Zakrzewski, Education Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, to discuss OUSD’s leadership role in bringing Roots of Empathy into its elementary schools.

OUSD has introduced Roots of Empathy as a key component of its social and emotional learning, part of a 5-year plan to “care for the whole child.”  The school district is one of only eight in the United States involved in the Collaborating Districts Initiative put forth by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the goal of which is to “develop and analyze evidence that it is not only possible but desirable for districts to prioritize social and emotional learning across their operations.”

After a comprehensive discussion of how the Roots of Empathy program will benefit OUSD students, the panel addressed contributions from the listening audience. The relevance, supporting evidence and international success of the Roots of Empathy program was highlighted throughout the hour-long broadcast.

Listen to the full episode of KQED’s Forum with Michael Krasny, here.