Students today struggle with emotional regulation, following directions, and other social-emotional skills, educators report. The uptick in cell phone and social media use at increasingly younger ages isn’t helping. Schools must find new ways to teach these character-building skills, which are crucial for students’ academic and long-term success.
This forum will explore creative ways schools across the country have found to seamlessly integrate teaching life skills into the school day. Join EdWeek journalists, educators, and experts to:
- Get practical ideas and best practices for implementing school cellphone bans and encouraging students to spend more time offline and with their peers
- Learn about the important role sports can play in character education
- Discuss the “soft” skills students most need to succeed in college, the workforce, and beyond
- Review new EdWeek Research Center survey data about the state of social-emotional learning in schools
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Agenda
2:00pm ET
Welcome & Introduction
We'll highlight key insights from recent Education Week reporting on how schools are preparing students with life skills.
Madeline Will is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of early childhood education and school leadership.
2:10pm ET
Interactive Session: The Social-Emotional Skills Kids Need Most
What “soft” skills are most important for students to have in 2026? And what are the barriers to teaching them? See exclusive nationally representative survey data from the EdWeek Research Center on how educators answered these questions and compare the findings to the perspectives surfaced by a live audience poll.
Arianna Prothero covers technology, student well-being, and the intersection of the two for Education Week.
2:20pm ET
Industry Perspective: Quick Wins for Tough Classroom Behaviors
Sponsor content provided by Second Step (Committee for Children)
Learn practical strategies to address behavior challenges like defiance, aggression, and social withdrawal while strengthening classroom climate. This bite-sized session will demonstrate how these behavior tools can align with tiered interventions, working together to reinforce student skill-building, prevent escalation, and support every learner.
Learn practical strategies to address behavior challenges like defiance, aggression, and social withdrawal while strengthening classroom climate. This bite-sized session will demonstrate how these behavior tools can align with tiered interventions, working together to reinforce student skill-building, prevent escalation, and support every learner.
Stefani Kauppila
Director of Product,
Committee for Children
Stefani Kauppila leads the team responsible for the vision and strategy behind Committee for Children’s innovative human skills programs. Detail-oriented and a problem-solver by nature, Kauppila sees issues through both a microscopic and telescopic lens. “I’ve always found big, hairy problems enticing,” she says. “But it’s by having an open mind, being willing to listen, and accepting some failure that I have learned to drive solutions with the greatest impact.”
2:30pm ET
Panel Discussion: Stop Doomscrolling: How Educators Can Encourage Students to Get Offline
Learn how one district paired a “no cellphones in school” policy with a sweeping initiative of a major explosion in extracurriculars designed to give students an alternative to doomscrolling. Early results show improvement in discipline and academic outcomes.
Alyson Klein is an assistant editor for Education Week.
Adam Swinyard
Superintendent,
Spokane Public Schools (WA)
As superintendent for one of Washington’s largest school districts, Swinyard is tasked with implementing the district’s vision, goals and policies. Under his leadership, Spokane Public Schools in 2024 was named a “District of Distinction” by District Administration Leadership Institute for its work in providing access and opportunity to all students. Swinyard previously served as the district’s associate superintendent for teaching and learning and director of secondary schools.
Mike Stark
Principal,
Glover Middle School (WA)
Mike Stark has been a principal in the Spokane Public School District at Glover Middle School for four years and was previously a principal at Cheney Public Schools for 20 years. He was also a math and science teacher for 9 years prior to embarking on his journey to school leadership.
Stephanie Splater
Executive Director of Athletics/Activities,
Spokane Public Schools (WA)
Stephanie Splater taught physical education for many years and is currently the Executive Director of Athletics/Activities with Spokane Public Schools, where she supports athletics, activities, and student engagement initiatives across the district. Her work centers on building inclusive, well-run programs that connect students to school and community through meaningful extracurricular opportunities. Outside of work, Splater’s number one hobby is cheering on the Seattle Mariners—win, lose, or extra innings.
3:15pm ET
Panel Discussion: Using Sports to Teach Life Skills
Playing sports is a great way for students to learn and practice social-emotional skills, like emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and communication. It’s where kids learn how to be good teammates, both on and off the field. In this session, experts and district leaders will discuss how to incorporate character education into team sports.
Lauraine Langreo is an Education Week staff writer, covering education technology, student well-being, and college and workforce readiness.
Megan Bartlett
Founder,
Center For Healing & Justice Through Sport
Megan Bartlett wants every coach and youth development practitioner (fine, every human) to learn about the brain so that they understand the unique ability that sport has to help kids heal, grow, and thrive. Happiest when she’s in a room full of coaches, Bartlett designs and delivers training experiences, creates toolkits and resources, and provides support to organizations committed to ensuring that all sports experiences are healing experiences. She is part of the faculty for NM Sport, speaks regularly on the power of sport for good, and is the author of two books: “A Kids Book About Trauma” and “Redesigning Youth Sports- Change the Game.”
Trinell Lewis
Supervisor of Extended Student Services,
La Mesa Spring Valley Schools (CA)
Trinell Lewis is the driving force behind the ESSPN Sports League in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. Since beginning his journey with Extended School Services (ESS) in 2013, Lewis has moved from the sidelines as a successful coach and official to the front office, where he now oversees day-to-day operations and staff mentorship for the district’s free sports program. A product of the district himself, Lewis is dedicated to giving back to his community by providing a free high-quality athletic experience. He focuses on integrating character education into team sports, ensuring that students develop essential life skills like emotional regulation and conflict resolution through the joy of play.
Jennifer Montez
Director of Extended Student Services,
La Mesa Spring Valley Schools (CA)
Jennifer Montez’s roots in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District run deep. A proud alumna of LMSV elementary and middle schools, Montez returned to her home district in 1999 to begin her career while still a college student. For Jennifer, working in expanded learning is more than a job; it’s a lifelong commitment to her community. While her primary focus has always been the well-being and success of the students, she has developed a secondary passion for leadership development. She views her ESS team members as the future of education and is dedicated to empowering them with the resources they need to thrive. Whether she is advocating for student safety or coaching a new site lead, Montez’s goal remains the same: showing up with heart to ensure every child and staff member has the opportunity to succeed.
Heather Spruell
Supervisor of Extended Student Services,
La Mesa Spring Valley Schools (CA)
Heather Spruell is a supervisor for the La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools who oversees the middle school programs. She has been with ESSPN since its inception, helping implement social-emotional learning and collaborating with school social workers, principals, and office teams to support student growth. As someone who grew up in ESS, she first experienced organized sports through kickball, which was a meaningful opportunity for her as a child of a single mother who worked long hours. That experience shapes her commitment to providing free sports programs that teach not only athletic fundamentals but also teamwork, discipline, and lifelong skills for success.
3:45pm ET
Interactive Session: What Educators Think About Social-Emotional Learning
This session will feature exclusive new survey data from EdWeek Research Center on what educators think about SEL and whether it's being used to address common challenges like excessive screen time, absenteeism, and misbehavior. Audience members are encouraged to share their thoughts, experiences, and questions.
Arianna Prothero covers technology, student well-being, and the intersection of the two for Education Week.
3:55pm ET
Closing Thoughts & Key Takeaways
Hear the big ideas and takeaways from the event.
Madeline Will is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of early childhood education and school leadership.
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