The podcast by education leaders for education leaders

The Imperative of SEL

Guest(s): Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan and John E. Hannigan
Date: 04/05/2021
Run time: 41:50
Season 1, Episode 6

Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan and John Hannigan, authors of SEL From a Distance, speak from their own experience about how important social-emotional learning (SEL) is for students, teachers, and school leaders. SEL is not something that comes to any of us naturally; the skills to take care of ourselves must be taught explicitly. The authors share how to do that from a distance (i.e. online in virtual teaching), as well as in person. Full of personal stories, you will learn in this episode:

How to teach kids SEL explicitly
The importance of taking care of ourselves as educators
How to build clarity and a common understanding of SEL.

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Episode Audio

Episode Video

Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan

Dr. Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan is an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership Department at California State University, Fresno. She works with schools and districts throughout the nation on designing and implementing effective behavior systems. Dr. Hannigan has a background in special education and student support services as well as experience with district level administration and higher education research. Jessica has developed inclusive research based best practices around systematic implementation of behavior initiatives. Dr. Hannigan is the co-author of multiple educational books such as The PBIS Tier One Handbook, The PBIS Tier Two Handbook, The PBIS Tier Three Handbook, Don’t Suspend Me! An Alternative Discipline Toolkit, Building Behavior, The MTSS Start-Up Guide, and Behavior Solutions. She has received multiple recognitions for her work, including being named California Outstanding School Psychologist of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Outstanding Faculty Publications and Service Award recipient. She was also recognized by the California Legislature Assembly for her work in social justice and equity. In 2017, Dr. Hannigan was awarded the inaugural Association of California School Administrators Exemplary Woman in Education Award for her persistent work around equity in schools.

John E. Hannigan

Dr. John Hannigan has served in education for over 20 years as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and county office leadership coach. John is a sought-after consultant who works with schools and districts across North America on designing and implementing systematic multi-tiered systems of support for both academics and behavior. Dr. Hannigan holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from California State University, Fresno. As principal of Reagan Elementary in California's Sanger Unified School District, John played a key role in the school earning California State Distinguished School, California Title I Academic Achievement Award, Gold Ribbon School, California Honor Roll School, Bonner Award for Character Education, and Platinum Level Model School Recognition for positive behavior interventions and supports. John has written numerous articles and co-authored nine books. He is the co-founder of Hannigan Ed-Equity Group LLC.

Connect with him on Twitter @JohnHannigan75

Peter M. DeWitt

Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective, and approaches everything with a learner's mindset. He was a K-5 teacher for 11 years and a principal for 8 years. For over 12 years, he has been facilitating professional learning nationally, and internationally, based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books.

DeWitt's professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy. His work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K.

Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week with Michael Nelson and they host Corwin’s Leaders Coaching Leaders podcast. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week's A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, research, trauma and many other educational topics.

Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books and his articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages.

Michael Nelson

There is no more noble profession than that of an educator was what Michael Nelson’s mom said almost every day while he was growing up. For almost 40 years, Michael has been an educator. His mom would be pleased.

Even though Michael still considers “teacher” as his primary title, he has served in roles of principal, district instructional leader, superintendent, assistant executive director developing professional development for the state of Washington, and currently as the Thought Partner for the Instructional Leadership Collective.

Michael has received many state and national awards during his time as a principal and superintendent. As principal, his school received the National Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education. As a superintendent, he was named Washington state’s 2019 Superintendent of the Year. During his tenure as superintendent, Michael was elected President of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) by his peers.

Michael Nelson co-facilitates coaching, keynotes, and workshops with Peter DeWitt. Their first book “Leading with Intention” was released in May 2024.