Teaching Empathy Institute (TEI) works to establish emotionally and physically safe learning communities for elementary, middle and high school students and the adults who work with them.
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is a non-profit educational organization that creates comprehensive and enduring social culture-building processes that meet the emotional needs of staff and students. Our award winning resources and programs focus on creating a culture of emotional safety in which healthy relationships are key.
School of Belonging Badge Program
The School of Belonging Badge Program in Partnership with Lesley University
Designed for educational professionals who are passionate about developing a culture of caring and compassion in their schools and classrooms
Immerse yourself in the enlightening process of belonging, connection, and self-expression
2019 Nautilus Award winner, 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist and 2020 Best Book Awards finalist, A Year of Belonging is a collection of reflections and accompanying practices designed for all adults who are concerned about the social and emotional well-being of the young people in their schools and communities.
TEI's School of Belonging focuses on social culture building with teachers, mental health professionals, support staff, specialists, and leadership. It teaches strategies that create a sustainable culture of belonging so that students are able to achieve to their fullest potential socially, emotionally, and academically.
...from an administrative lens is they came in and met us where we were at. They didn't come in and change what we were doing; they enhanced what we were doing."
Creating Schools of Belonging
TEI’s signature initiative, School of Belonging, is a comprehensive and enduring social culture-building process that highlights how critical it is to meet the emotional needs of staff and students. Working with school leaders, teachers, mental health professionals, para-professionals, students and parents, School of Belonging, implementation focuses on creating a culture of emotional safety in which healthy relationships are key. Emphasizing life-skills development, students achieve to their fullest academically and socially while having the skills and perspective to manage emotions successfully during stressful and difficult times.
We are empathy educators well-versed in research on the emotional needs of children with deep experience creating positive school communities. We aim to meet schools where they are – with no judgment – and help them get to where they want to be through parallel learning experiences for students, teachers, school leaders, and parents. Our resources are easy to access in digital and print formats, and designed for practical infusion into daily classroom life.
Your program was right on target. More so, you are so totally involved in what you are doing and so confident of its worth that everyone involved becomes infected with your enthusiasm and confidence.
Jan Dolan, Winchester Public Schools
We've heard nothing but positive feedback on your recent program. One parent even stated to me that it was like a spiritual experience for him. You've truly had an impact on our community and we are most grateful.
Joseph P. Sullivan, Principal, Centerville Elementary School
Students quickly see that they can feel good by sharing openly and honestly. Once they learn how, people learn that this type of communication is deeply satisfying...I congratulate David Levine for creating the environment where these students could learn such difficult and transforming skills in such a short period.
David Marell, Onteora Public Schools
David exceeded my very considerable expectations. David exhibits an excellent role model and our youth responded extremely well to him. He was equally effective in providing guidance and training to the adult staff.
Ann M. Godesky, Pawling High School
Measuring Our Effectiveness
TEI’s School of Belonging initiative was researched by Drs. Katherine Roberts and Laura Guerra, of Columbia University Teachers College, as part of a longitudinal study on the effects of a School of Belonging on school safety, peer relations, emotional wellness, and student perception of the school climate. A leadership academy was run with 4th grade students in the Hudson Valley of New York during the 2019-2020 school year. These students were provided with the social and emotional leadership skills necessary to prepare them as they entered middle school as 5th graders in the 2020-2021 school year.
