Every year as we approach the end of December, we like to look back to reflect upon all that we have been able to accomplish throughout the year. As schools have re-opened for in-person learning again in 2021, students and teachers have been feeling an Attitude of Gratitude that they are once again able to connect face-to-face. While this school year has still presented unique challenges, school communities have been able to come together to support each other and continue building a positive school culture.
Reflecting on 2021, 7 Mindsets has had many exciting moments as we have worked to further our mission of helping schools support their students’ and teachers’ social emotional wellness and build an optimistic view of the future with Mindsets-Based social emotional learning (SEL).
At the beginning of the year, several of our customers were featured in District Administration and SmartBrief discussing how to select and implement an SEL program, as well as a featured article in Equity & Access Pre K-12 about using SEL to prevent COVID burnout.
In February, we welcomed Dr. Searetha Smith-Collins to the position of chief academic officer. In this position, Dr. Smith-Collins has been able to elevate the quality of our curriculum and guide our company as we have created even more impactful experiences for the millions of students and educators we serve.
In the spring, we were recognized as one of the best remote and blended learning tools for secondary grades and one of the best secondary tools for back to school in Tech & Learning’s Awards of Excellence program. We also were named a finalist for the EdTech Trendsetter award in the 2021 EdTech Awards by EdTech Digest.
In May, our very own President Lupita Knittel was honored in by the American Consortium for Equity in Education as one of 20 women leading the education industry. These 20 female leaders were recognized by Equity & Access magazine for their vision to make learning more equitable and their commitment to making that vision a reality.
In August, we developed a white paper to guide school leaders in promoting teacher well-being and mental health. The white paper, Investing in Educators’ Social Emotional Wellness Fosters Student Success and Improves School Culture, provides insights and lessons to help teachers be more successful in impacting the social emotional wellness of their students, ultimately changing school cultures for the better.
This fall, we updated our resources to help schools acquire funding for SEL programs by creating a funding guide: How to Use Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act for PK – 12 Social Emotional Learning. The guide emphasizes the importance of SEL in creating a supportive learning environment and explains how to make the most of the American Rescue Act (ARP) federal stimulus funding for SEL.
Here at 7 Mindsets, we are filled with gratitude for all that we experienced in 2021. We are entering 2022 with the Mindset that Everything is Possible, and we look forward to the growth and changes that the new year will bring.
We hope you take the time to reflect upon the impact you have made on the students in your life and the support that you have provided to their learning and social emotional growth throughout the year. On behalf of all of us at 7 Mindsets, we want to wish you all a joyful holiday and a happy new year!
