School Stories

Student Advisory: Northridge Academy High School
After 18 years of teaching English, Julie Anna Glynn is convinced that social and emotional learning is the key, complementary piece to a strong academic program. In 2008, when Glynn transferred to Northridge Academy High School in Northridge, California, she was able to focus on SEL more than ever.

That summer she attended a School-Connect Summer Institute and soon began implementing the curriculum in Life Sk+ills, a semester-long freshmen course required by her district. Meanwhile, she integrated and reinforced the concepts and skills in her English classes. This fall, Northridge Academy plans to transfer delivery of School-Connect lessons to student advisory and bring SEL school-wide.

Glynn especially likes seeing the results of SEL unfold: “When students come in they’re not necessarily used to such intense social and emotional training that comes with School-Connect. Then as time goes on the atmosphere becomes more and more supportive, friendly, open, enriched. The students start supporting one another. They’re quiet and they want to listen to one another…Then they’re able to connect that to academics and everything becomes better for them.”
 
As a school of choice within Los Angeles Unified School District, Northridge Academy (grades 9-12; 969 students) draws on a rich diversity of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Before coming to the school, many students have been successful academically, while others have not and are looking for a second chance.Glynn sees School-Connect working with students from across the spectrum.

“I have seen kids who are getting A and B’s being directionless.” Glynn credits SEL with helping these students link their strengths and interests to the kinds of education and work that will fulfill them, giving them renewed motivation. She has also seen students who don’t want to be in school and are in danger of failing gain awareness that they, too, have skills and talents. “All of a sudden their attitude towards school changes, towards life changes, and they want to be here.” 

Caitlyn, a student in Glynn’s class, concurs. “I used to wake up in the morning and think, ‘Oh, just another day of school. Just go to school, come back home—every same, repeated thing.’ Now, I’m so excited to come to third period to School-Connect because I’m excited to … see what we’re going to do that day.”

It’s hard to quibble with success except when you’re in the midst of a recession and teachers’ jobs are threatened. Facing budget cuts and the loss of Life Skills as a required course, Northridge was fortunate that their savvy principal, Karen Matsui, had already successfully negotiated the inclusion of a daily, 25-minute advisory period across the grade levels. Because School-Connect lessons have segmented activities, a lesson can be split up and taught over several advisory sessions, creating a focus for the week.

The school’s current plan is to implement Modules 1 and 2 in ninth grade advisory and Modules 3 and 4 in tenth grade advisory. Juniors and seniors will receive Lesson Extensions along with pieces developed by the school, and some upper classmen may serve as assistants in 9th and 10th advisories. The student advisory model offers an opportunity for school-wide implementation of School-Connect skills and strategies, so this may be a case of making lemonade when handed a lemon.  

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