Translating Student Voice into Student Action

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

We often hear that a key purpose of schooling is to prepare students for informed and active citizenship. But what does this look like in practice? How do teachers pursue this goal amid other pressing priorities, including student mastery of both academic content and social-emotional competencies? Students Taking Action Together (STAT), is an instructional strategy teachers and mental health professionals (e.g., school psychologist, social worker, counselor) can use within existing content that builds students’ SEL skills in empathy, perspective taking, emotion regulation, problem-solving, and respectful, effective communication. STAT is based on a program of the same name developed at Rutgers University, and clarifies that the way to prepare young people for life in a democracy is by intentionally rehearsing democratic behaviors in the classroom. This is a field-tested program.

Learning Objectives

As a result of attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Discuss five scaffolded research-based SEL strategies to facilitate lessons on contentious issues/problems, while engaging social-emotional learning, civic discourse, and social justice topics and meeting the curricular standards.
• Integrate professional knowledge into the one of the five STAT strategies.
• Plan and create a sample lesson (plan) for one of the STAT strategies.
• Assess and analyze the STAT sample lesson (plan) developed.

Instructor Bio

Dr. Crystal Molyneaux is a Licensed Psychologist who also holds a New Jersey and national certification as a school psychologist (NCSP). Dr. Molyneaux uses psychology to empower individuals, decrease systemic racism and oppression, and amplify one's voice. Dr. Molyneaux takes a holistic and integrative approach to guide individuals to their more liberated selves. Dr. Molyneaux has furthered these efforts as the Founder and CEO of The Molyneaux Center for Liberated Minds, Inc.- a therapy, healing and consultation space. Dr. Molyneaux has a strong desire keep youth who are disproportionately represented in justice systems off the school-to-prison pipeline; therefore, Dr. Molyneaux aids youth of minority backgrounds in discovering new and more adaptive ways to cope and express themselves. Dr. Molyneaux works with students in group and individual settings to assist in self-awareness, self-efficacy and self-management in hostile/adverse situations. Dr. Molyneaux has also co-authored the book titled Students Taking Action Together: 5 Teaching Techniques to Cultivate SEL, Civic Engagement, and a Healthy Democracy to create equitable systems where students can thrive. Outside of her work, you can find Dr. Molyneaux enjoying activities with family and friends such as painting, attending basketball games, hosting movie nights, or attending concerts and the theatre.

Disclosure statement: Dr. Molyneaux serves as a consultant for Students Taking Action Together and is co-author of the book "Students Taking Action Together"

Contact Us

For questions, please contact: ce@gsapp.rutgers.edu

Continuing Education Information

Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer professional development for school psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) maintains responsibility for the program.

Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0123.

LMFT/MFT and LPC/LAC Licensed in New Jersey: Programs approved by the American Psychological Association are acceptable sources of continuing education credits. Please see https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-34-Subchapters-10-31-Professional-Counselors.pdf, Section: 13:34-15.4 APPROVAL OF COURSES OR PROGRAMS on page 27. For all other professional licenses and certifications, please reference your issuing state board regulations regarding reciprocity of continuing education credits.

Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content.