~Founding Partners Campaign ~
June - September 2026
Over the past several years, our work through SEL4NC has helped build statewide momentum around human development, emotional intelligence, and systems-level support across education.
As this work continues to evolve, we are now formalizing into the Center for Human Skills to expand our capacity, strengthen our infrastructure, and deepen our impact across education, workforce, industry, and community systems.
The Center for Human Skills exists to strengthen people and systems through:
- Leadership development
- Human-centered design
- Strategic partnerships
- Workforce development
- Organizational capacity building
- Continuous learning and improvement
To build this well, we are raising $75,000 to establish the foundational infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and systems needed to support our growth.
This initial fundraising will help us launch three areas of work:
1. Our organizational partnership with SchermCo to support nonprofit development, fundraising strategy, governance, and infrastructure.
2. Carolina Thrives, our first statewide initiative designed to better understand and strengthen the human skills, wellbeing, and workforce conditions needed for North Carolina to thrive.
3. Emotionally Intelligent (EI) Ecosystems, our strategic support model helping organizations strengthen leadership, culture, and workforce development in an evolving world.
Podcast
Growing New Communities of Support with SEL4 NC Founders, Megan Lyons and Beth Rice
Join Dr. R. Scott Lee for an enriching discussion, Part 2 in The Thoughtful Teacher podcast series, on building communities of practice around social emotional learning. Megan and Beth joined with a group of educators in North Carolina to form the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for North Carolina or SEL4NC. In this episode, they share the work that the Alliance is conducting in North Carolina, telling how they got started in 2023 to their current (and future) work.
Also, listen to Part 1 with Jim Vetter, the executive director of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States – SEL4US, as he shares how this collection of state alliances supports classroom teachers and schools to develop and promote strong social emotional learning initiatives. This is the first of a two-part series featuring the work of educators within SEL 4US.
Special thanks to our SEL Day 2026 Partners!
Monday, March 2, 2026
SEL Day is a global, grassroots campaign for social-emotional learning to support children’s academic recovery, mental health, and well-being. Since its inception in 2020, #SELday has reached over 40 million views. We appreciate your willingness to help amplify our efforts as we showcase and promote International Social Emotional Learning Day 2026 – Monday, March 2, 2026!
Students Talk about SEL's Impact in School and in their Life
Learn more at https://equipourkids.org/
SEL In Action:
Kids' Perspectives
Students have a unique perspective on how high-level decisions impact the day-to-day life of the school, and their voices are critical to quality schoolwide SEL implementation and fostering equitable learning environments. By listening to students, schools can make informed decisions about the changes that will best support all learners.
~ CASEL, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning
“When you smile at someone, they smile back. . .smiles are contagious!” ~1st grade student at Vista Grande Elementary School
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format. Learn more at https?//www.ted.com/tedx
SEL4NC Leadership Team has compiled resources from multiple sources for outreach to Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helen.
If you have suggestions or comments, please contact Dr. Beth Rice at beth.boggs.rice@gmail.com
Educators Value SEL
Teachers are calling for schools to prioritize integrating SEL learning practices and strategies.
Principals Value SEL
Principals say SEL is essential, but want more guidance, training and support to teach these skills effectively.
SEL Yields Returns
On average, for every $1 invested in SEL programming, there is a return of $11.