IFSEL Offers:
Dan Sweeney
Daniel B. Sweeney
In loving memory

Daniel B. Sweeney

Dear IFSEL Community,

Our hearts are deeply saddened and we are in an aching state of shock that we have lost our cherished friend, devoted team member, and wise colleague, Dan Sweeney, to cancer on December 2, 2022.  His tireless work as one of The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning's Directors was integral to our program's steadiness and humanity.

Many of you experienced Dan's expert facilitation, knowing laugh, and conscientious attention in Summer Institute 4 - Day workshops or on a school campus within every quadrant of the USA as well as Beijing, Tokyo, and Bangkok. Dan loved the world and loved to travel. We relied heavily on his extensive and expert facilitation. He was often one step ahead of us on our worldwide journeys; troubleshooting details and design, adding comments that focused and clarified our work. Dan asked us to think deeply and broadly.

Over the past 12 years with IFSEL, he also helped design and deliver countless IFSEL sessions for educators, tirelessly bringing his astute insights on the vital role social and emotional learning plays in bringing equity and inclusivity into community. Because of his work at Seattle Country Day School as teacher and administrator for those same 12 years, Dan kept the pulse on ways to implement real practice of SEL. He designed SEL and Advisory at SCDS where he led  student and faculty group problem solving and held many key leadership positions, ending with Middle School Division Head and Director of Professional Growth K-8th Grade.

Dan wanted middle school students to experience the real lives of diverse people and places around the world. He led over one hundred trips including recently to Monterey, California’s Steinbeck country, for face to face connection with the needs of migrant workers; Dachau, Germany at the Concentration Camp Memorial Site, for a deep and empathic perspective of humankind's unspeakable history, or in Rwanda, partner-teaching with an all-girls school, making new friends, and delivering supplies.

We pledge to honor his legacy in our daily work and to continue to find ways for "empathy to abound so all people thrive."

With gratitude for our kind and loving community,

The IFSEL Team

The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning empowers educators, young people, and parents to transform their schools into caring, inclusive communities.

Since 2009, IFSEL has designed and led professional development Institutes, Workshops, and Consultations with 7000+ educators, from over 700 schools in the United States and abroad.

ApproachUpcoming EventsSELf Reflection Tool
IFSEL Offers:

School & District
Program

4-Day
Institutes

Leadership
Program

Professional
Development

Parent & Caregiver
Support

SEL
Coaching

SEL
Curriculum

Our Mission

The Institute for Social and Emotional Learning empowers educators, young people, and parents to transform their schools into caring, inclusive communities.

Since 2009, IFSEL has designed and led professional development Institutes, Workshops, and Consultations with 7000+ educators, from over 700 schools in the United States and abroad.

Reflect on your organization's SEL Program

IFSEL’s Free School and District SELf Reflection Tool uses a student-centered, whole-community approach to help schools better understand the strengths and areas for growth of their current SEL provision. This tool empowers educators and administrators to build an evidence-led action plan and prioritize next steps for their community.

Understanding Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

Watch IFSEL's Director and Co-Founder, Nick Haisman-Smith, explain SEL and how it helps children and adults succeed.

Learn more about our approach and how we help schools and districts adopt a framework for SEL here.

LAUNCHED: In-Person Summer Institutes for 2022

We are thrilled to announce that during the summer of 2022, IFSEL will once again offer our flagship SEL Institutes IN-PERSON at these locations/dates:

  1. June 27-30: Washington, DC Area
  2. July 25-28: Chicago, IL
  3. August 1-4: San Francisco Bay Area
Financial Aid and Group Discounts Available for All Institutes

What We Offer

IFSEL SCHOOLS CONSULTING PROGRAM

Each year we design and lead a one-year path of faculty development work for a small number of schools. The path is customized for each school’s needs, so SEL can be integrated fully into the education experience of all students and teachers.

IN-PERSON 4 DAY SEL INSTITUTES

Institutes are our core experience, designed with SEL as a professional and personally transformative experience. Join a cohort of educators, administrators, and counselors from Kindergarten through 12th grade for four days of inspirational and informative sessions, collaboration, and reflection that range across a broad library of SEL topics and research. Gain experiential knowledge and resources to bring SEL to your school communities.

SEL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

These creative and experiential two-day workshop offers educators, administrators, counselors and advisors the opportunity to learn how to build classroom practices and school-wide systems that nurture the social and emotional health of all members of the community. Schools that intentionally activate SEL across the community in this way see wide-ranging benefits for emotional and mental health, a growth in the sense of belonging and community, and positive shifts in mindset, engagement and learning.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

Our courses offer exciting professional and personal renewal through learning experiences that engage your growth mindset and resiliency. SEL Courses afford opportunities for both new and experienced educators to engage with sound research and time-tested curricula resources.  Gain insight through thoughtful discussion, well-designed interactions, and the opportunity for self and group reflection.

PARENT & CAREGIVER SUPPORT

To support the work schools are already doing to activate SEL across their communities, IFSEL has developed a Series of online Workshops for parents. The Series offers parents the chance to come together to uncover both a shared understanding and a range of practical tools and insights to bring SEL alive at home.

FACULTY & STAFF WORKSHOPS

This workshop series is designed for new faculty and staff at schools that already have worked with IFSEL. The workshop will introduce IFSEL’s Whole-Community Approach to SEL through a series of meaningful and creative experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a range of practices and tools that will deepen their knowledge, skills and confidence in working with students, colleagues and families. The workshop is the ideal way for all current and prior IFSEL schools to welcome new faculty and support them through their first year at your school.

CONSULTING

Members of the IFSEL Team are available to support schools on-site through creative and engaging professional development. We work closely with schools to understand their hopes and needs, co-creating an agenda designed for maximum benefit and impact.

COACHing FOR ADMINISTRATORS & EDUCATORS

IFSEL’s Team brings decades of experience to coaching work - as Administrators, SEL- specialists, Counselors, Non-Profit CEOs, and Researchers. We know that coaching thrives when there is a strong connection between coachee and their coach, so we’re dedicated to listening to your hopes and finding the right match.

SEL CURRICULUM FOR ALL AGES

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LAUNCHED: In-Person Summer Institutes for 2022

We are thrilled to announce that during the summer of 2022, IFSEL will once again offer our flagship SEL Institutes IN-PERSON at these locations/dates:

Financial Aid and Group Discounts Available for All Institutes
Find out more and Register!

Featured Professional Development Events

Summer SEL Institute - Washington, DC

The Institute provides participants with inspiration and current research as well as experiential lesson materials. Throughout our time together, IFSEL’s facilitators will demonstrate a unique take on ten distinct educator practices that expand social and emotional learning, inclusivity and well-being..

June 26-29
4 Days
In-Person
K-12
Summer SEL Institute - Chicago

The Institute provides participants with inspiration and current research as well as experiential lesson materials. Throughout our time together, IFSEL’s facilitators will demonstrate a unique take on ten distinct educator practices that expand social and emotional learning, inclusivity and well-being..

July 24-27
4 Days
In-Person
K-12
Summer SEL Institute - San Francisco Area

The Institute provides participants with inspiration and current research as well as experiential lesson materials. Throughout our time together, IFSEL’s facilitators will demonstrate a unique take on ten distinct educator practices that expand social and emotional learning, inclusivity and well-being..

July 31- August 3
4 Days
In-Person
K-12
See All Events

The Responses We Receive

“IFSEL was by far the most inspiring, empowering, and career-changing
professional development I have ever been a part of.”  
--Administrator and Summer Institute Participant

 “[IFSEL] completely changed our school culture for the better... We just did a survey with [6th -8th graders], and it was overwhelmingly in favor of more SEL.”  
--Middle School Teacher, Advisor, and Summer Institute Participant

"Thank you for making this something to look forward to. Trainings are always awesome, but when you learn how to grow from a deeper place inside, that is something that is hard to put a value you, and you always want more!!! THANK YOU!!!"
--High School Teacher and Virtual Workshop Participant

"I received so much from the Workshop: new tools and resources, personal affirmation of my pedagogical practices, amazing connections, and social support and grounding. It exceeded all my expectations!"
--High School Teacher and Workshop Participant

"This Workshop was a wonderful experience - the materials, the takeaways, the easily implemented strategies and tools will be invaluable for working with students, faculty, and staff."
--Lower School Teacher and Workshop Participant
Hear From Educators we've worked with→

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