Season 4, Episode 7 | Karl Mueller, Superintendent, Coronado Unified School District, Discusses Successful Mental Health First Aid Program

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 7 of "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged" Sponsored by a champion of schools, school leaders, teachers and employees - SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union - we have an excellent episode featuring discussions with Karl Mueller, Superintendent of Coronado Unified School District, who discusses the mission of school Superintendents and the challenges they face. He highlighted the success of the "Supe Tank" initiative, which led to the implementation of a mental health first aid program for freshmen. This program, integrated into the freshman experience, aims to equip students with tools to support peers struggling with mental health issues. Mueller emphasized the importance of partnerships between schools, families, and the community, noting the evolving role of public schools in providing wraparound services. He also addressed the impact of social media on student behavior and the need for clear communication and collaboration.Karl Mueller's Contributions and Supe Tank 5.0Drew Schlosberg acknowledges Karl Mueller's contributions to the Classroom of the Future Foundation and his role in Supe Tank, an event that showcases innovation in school districts.Karl Mueller expresses gratitude for the opportunity to showcase innovation and highlights the diversity and creativity within the county's school districts.Karl Mueller shares a success story from Supe Tank 5.0, where he pitched the idea of bringing mental health first aid to every student in the Coronado Unified School District.Two years after the pitch, Coronado High School now offers a mental health first aid component to all freshmen as part of their freshman Islander experience.Impact of Mental Health First Aid ProgramKarl Mueller explains the importance of mental health first aid, comparing it to CPR certification and emphasizing its role in providing students with resources and tools to support peers struggling with mental health issues.The program is integrated into the freshman Islander experience, a nine-week high school boot camp that includes college planning, career options, and dual enrollment partnerships.By the end of their high school experience, every graduate from Coronado High School will have completed the mental health first aid training and received a certificate.Drew Schlosberg emphasizes the importance of mental health programs, noting the current mental health crisis among youth and the long-term benefits of such initiatives.Partnerships and Community InvolvementKarl Mueller discusses the importance of partnerships between schools, families, and the community in developing children.He highlights the role of public schools in providing wraparound services, including early morning care, breakfast, mental health supports, and after-school resources.Karl emphasizes the need for public schools to operate as part of a larger ecosystem, rather than in isolation, and the importance of collaboration and communication with community partners.He shares examples of how public schools have taken on additional responsibilities in recent decades, including providing social emotional development programs and character-building curricula.Challenges of Social Media and Media InfluenceKarl Mueller addresses the impact of social media on students, noting its potential to disrupt and distract on campus and influence behaviors that contradict school values.He acknowledges the difficulty of monitoring students' online activities and the challenges of holding schools accountable for behaviors that occur off-campus.Karl discusses the new state legislation that restricts cell phone use during instructional time and the challenges of enforcing similar restrictions during non-instructional time.He emphasizes the need for partnerships with parents to educate them about social media and the importance of setting clear expectations and consequences for online behavior.Balancing Responsibilities and Setting BoundariesKarl Mueller discusses the need to set boundaries and communicate expectations clearly to students, parents, and the community.He highlights the importance of assuming good intent and working collaboratively to address challenges and reinforce positive behaviors.Karl Mueller shares an example of a conversation with a parent about the challenges of managing student behavior and the need for mutual understanding and respect.He emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for students to learn and grow, and the role of public schools in preparing students for their next chapter in life.Conclusion Drew Schlosberg thanks Karl Mueller for his insights and contributions to the show, highlighting the importance of partnerships and collaboration in education.Karl provides his email address for listeners who want to continue the conversation and learn more about his approach to education and partnerships.Drew reiterates the importance of mutual understanding and respect in developing successful ...