Murray, UT
A Positive Shift In School Culture With Adult Skill Development
It’s helped our teachers connect with their coworkers, administrators, and students, and connect back to themselves and their love of teaching.
Sierra Marsh, School Social Worker, Grant Elementary School
When Grant Elementary School in Murray, Utah, reopened after closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, administrators faced the challenge of strengthening their school community. To support teachers and staff, the school adopted the Second Step® program for educators, a professional learning program rooted in strengthening human skills. Educators developed skills through the program that helped them connect to their students, their passion for teaching, and each other.
Grant Elementary School
Situation
Grant Elementary is a public Kindergarten–Grade 6 school with an enrollment of approximately 375 students. In addition to the school principal, Grant Elementary has 13 classroom teachers, one special education teacher, a speech and language pathologist, and a school social worker.
In 2019, the school adopted Second Step® Elementary. They began with classroom kits, then transitioned to the digital program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once in-person classes resumed, the challenges weren’t over. The pandemic closure impacted the school’s culture and relationships within the community, and students struggled to adjust back to in-person learning. As a result, teachers reported burnout, overwhelming stress, toxicity in school culture, and disconnection from leadership.
Approach
Grant Elementary adopted the Second Step® program for educators in 2021 to help educators establish trust and build relationships with their students and colleagues. School leaders provided staff with the flexibility to complete the program’s microlearnings based on their schedules, emphasized the value of staff contributions and feedback, and ensured support throughout the program.
Outcomes
After completing the first two program modules, Building Trust and Managing Stress, staff reported a decrease in burnout symptoms and workplace conflicts. They noted an increase in levels of trust among colleagues and students, as well as improved self-awareness and motivation among staff. Educators also reported that strengthening their own personal and relational competencies helped them model these skills for their students more effectively.