SEL Awardee

Natasha Santiago

Nissitissit Middle School
North Middlesex Regional School District
Pepperell, MA
“Project SMILE (Support, Model, Include, Learn and Encourage) will help to educate all students and staff about different abilities, normalize supports, increase visibility of people with disabilities, reduce stigma, and create a more inclusive school community. Community members and public figures with and without disabilities will share about their experiences and about how inclusion enriches their lives. We will facilitate activities that promote empathy and celebrate diversity. Students will be provided with opportunities to reflect on issues that impact them and will participate in student-led projects that will improve our school climate.”
Tags: Collaborative Learning, Culturally Responsive Approaches, Elementary School, Middle School, Mindfulness, Project-based Learning, Racial, Gender and/or Social Justice, Rural, Student Engagement, Student Leadership & Voice, Students with Disabilities, Teacher, Teacher Leadership, Traditional Public School, Use of Space