Minnetonka board hears plan to standardize social-emotional learning districtwide
Loading...
Summary
School administrators told the Sept. 4 school board meeting that Minnetonka Public Schools has selected Character Strong as its Tier 1 social‑emotional learning curriculum, will continue Social Thinking, and will implement a 36‑week scope and sequence across K–12 with family materials and translation supports.
At its Sept. 4 meeting, Minnetonka Public Schools administrators presented a districtwide plan to standardize social‑emotional learning (SEL), saying the district has selected Character Strong as its Tier 1 curriculum, will continue using Social Thinking, and will use a 36‑week scope and sequence to deliver lessons across grade levels.
"Tier 1 universal instruction for every student forms the foundation of our multi‑tiered system of support," Executive Director of Student Services Christine Breen told the board. She said the district reviewed SEL practices with the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement and piloted programs in 2024 before selecting Character Strong.
The presentation, led by Breen and Academic Coordinator Annalise Peterson, said 63 teachers across the district's six elementary schools participated in the January–May pilot. Peterson described the district's implementation approach as "plug and play," with lessons and family newsletters that staff can open and use with minimal preparation.
Peterson said the elementary rollout emphasizes Social Thinking as a foundational methodology and that Character Strong will provide the grade‑level curriculum, including a bully‑prevention component embedded in the 36‑week sequence. "We have a full 36 week scope and sequence…we wanted to make it a quick plug and play where teachers could click and go," Peterson said.
At the middle school level, the district is using a four‑part integration model that includes Crew Academy (dedicated class time for SEL and life skills), advisory, health classes for prevention instruction, and embedding strategies in content classrooms. Breen said Crew Academy provides sequential, grade‑specific instruction and that advisory and multi‑age relationship work are intended to foster belonging and mentorship.
Minnetonka High School will proceed with an "All Aboard" model emphasizing four pillars — be respectful, be present, be connected, be prepared — and continued use of developmental relationships to guide teacher practices, the presentation said. Administrators said there is not a single off‑the‑shelf high school SEL curriculum they adopted for the upper grades; rather, MHS staff adapted district principles into an operational model.
The district said materials for family connection will include monthly newsletters tied to classroom themes and translations into Spanish and Mandarin where possible. Board members asked about additional languages; Breen and Peterson said principals, assistant principals and multilingual staff will ensure communications reach families in the languages they prefer.
Board members praised the emphasis on embedding bully prevention into daily instruction rather than teaching it as an isolated program. The presentation named local and national contributors to the work, including Carr ie Palmer (Social Thinking), Dr. Clay Cook (Character Strong / Purposeful People), and Captivate Media (a short video used to introduce staff to the rollout).
