In this conversation with Sharmila Miller, we learn about her experience as a drama teacher and anti-racism facilitator within education and performing arts. Sharmila shares how the process of teaching drama inherently involves engaging students with empathy, perspective taking, conflict resolution and problem solving skills. She also explains how she uses performing arts techniques for anti-racist education and facilitation. Through this fun and engaging dialogue, we are challenged to rethink formalized SEL education and reflect on the myriad ways sociality and emotionality are already embedded in the learning process.

Participants:
Adishi Gupta, MA, Independent Scholar
Emma McMain, PhD, University of Arkansas
Sharmila Miller, Drama & English Teacher, Maple Ridge, British Columbia (SD 42)
Facilitator: Adishi Gupta
Editor: Adam Engelbrecht

References and Resources:

• Interdisciplinary Arts Academy at School District 42, British Columbia: https://www.sd42.ca/academy/interdisciplinary-arts/
• Dr. Sarah Fine, “Lessons in Powerful Learning from the Fringes”: https://www.humanrestorationproject.org/podcasts/lessons-in-powerful-learning-from-the-fringes-w-dr-sarah-fine
• Augusto Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augusto-Boal
• Different levels of racism framework: https://www.raceforward.org/what-racial-equity-0

In this episode of Unboxing SEL, Dr. Shannon Wanless and Dr. Renee Owen share insights from their article Evolving Transformative SEL with an Ecological Perspective. They trace their unique paths into SEL and explain why moving beyond individualistic approaches is essential for tackling inequity and climate injustice. Emphasizing interconnectedness, collective action, and care for the natural world, they highlight ways educators can weave this perspective into everyday practice without adding to their workload. It’s a warm, thought-provoking conversation that invites listeners to reimagine SEL as a shared journey toward personal, community, and environmental well-being.

Participants:

Jinan El Sabbagh, PhD, Oklahoma State University

Emma McMain, PhD, University of Arkansas

Tonje Molyneux, PhD, University of British Columbia

Renee Owen, EdD, Southern Oregon University

Shannon Wanless, PhD, University of PIttsburgh

Facilitator: Tonje Molyneux

Editor: Adam Engelbrecht

References and Resources:

• “Evolving Transformative Social and Emotional Learning with an Ecological Perspective” (Renee Owen, Meena Srinivasan, and Shannon Wanless): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773233925000506
• Oregon Department of Education SEL site (dispositions): https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/standards/sel/pages/default.aspx
• Transformative Educational Leadership: https://www.teleadership.org/
• Lisa Miller and The Spiritual Child: https://www.lisamillerphd.com/
• Rainbow Community School: https://rainbowcommunityschool.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21848063262&gbraid=0AAAAADRjSUXbLK8qKqepoA3EwtRXtbaTO&gclid=Cj0KCQjwndHEBhDVARIsAGh0g3Aa6JtWceMlTCe0UYSR0NPooEmXoLcgLziV_QnBScv9WxyyCe1DKIEaAjMfEALw_wcB
• SEE curriculum: https://seelearning.emory.edu/
• Sherri Mitchell and Sacred Instructions: https://www.sacredinstructions.life/
• Robin Wall Kimmerer and Indigenous Wisdom: https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/
• David Sobel and The Holistic Educational Review: https://www.antioch.edu/faculty/david-sobel/
• Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education (Tom Roderick): https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9781682538074/teach-for-climate-justice/
• Restoring the Kinship Worldview (Wahinkpe Topa/Four Arrows and Darcia Narvaez): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/690771/restoring-the-kinship-worldview-by-wahinkpe-topa-four-arrows/
• Richie Davidson and the Upaya Zen Center: https://www.upaya.org/about/
• The Center for Holistic Education: https://centerforholisticeducation.org/

Unboxing SEL dives into conversation with Traci Gardner and Xavier Graves from the Restorative Justice Institute of Oklahoma (RJIOK) to learn about their work and vision toward promoting more just and equitable futures. Restorative justice, says Xavier, “is not the what, it’s the how we get there.” We discuss the overlaps between SEL and restorative justice, ending with the bittersweet hope that change can come if we are willing to reenvision our systems. From Traci: “I do believe human relationships can be healed and restored, given enough time and space. And I also believe we live in a society that does not make that time or space available to us. So just living in the both/and of that.”

Participants:

Traci Gardner, Nurturer of Restorative Futures, RJIOK

Xavier Graves, E.D., RJIOK

Jinan El Sabbagh, PhD, Oklahoma State University

Emma McMain, PhD, University of Arkansas

Facilitator: Jinan El Sabbagh

Editor: Adam Engelbrecht

References and Resources:

• Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com/
• Cheryl Step, Creating Resilience: https://creatingresilience.org/index.html
• Bettina Love, Punished for Dreaming: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250280381/punishedfordreaming/
• The Social Relational Window: https://restorativeteachingtools.com/understanding-the-social-relational-window/
• CAR Model (Cue-Action-Response): https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/car-model
• Ubuntu: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1HQKko_qRr4
• adrienne maree brown and Autumn Brown, “How to Survive the End of the World”: https://adriennemareebrown.net/podcast/how-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/
• Dr. Sunita Sah: https://www.sunitasah.com/