Episode 406

full
Published on:

30th May 2025

No Quick Fixes To Raise Happy, Healthy 35yos: The Role of SEL In Building An Informed Society

Summary: Join C.T. and guest Julie MacArthur, Principal of Brewer Island Elementary School in Foster City, California, as they explore how a strong focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) shapes a joyful and inclusive school community. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Diverse, Joyful Environment: Brewer Island is a small, culturally rich school with over 300 students speaking 30+ languages, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere.
  • Strong Staff Community: Many teachers and staff have worked at the school for decades, fostering deep relationships and stability.
  • SEL as a Foundational Lens: SEL is not an add-on, but the lens through which all learning and teaching occur at Brewer Island. It’s about helping students develop a strong sense of self, emotional literacy, and the ability to navigate challenges.
  • Beyond “Soft Skills”: SEL is deeply embedded in academic learning, not just about feelings or “soft skills.” It’s essential for academic success and lifelong well-being.
  • Teaching Grit and Perseverance: Students are explicitly taught to value effort, perseverance, and optimism, especially when facing challenges in subjects like math.
  • Productive Struggle: The school encourages students to embrace struggle as a normal and necessary part of learning, helping them build resilience and confidence.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Raising Happy and Healthy Adults

00:37 Meet Julie MacArthur: Principal of Brewer Island Elementary

01:18 The Diverse Community of Brewer Island

04:34 Understanding Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

08:12 SEL in Mathematics: Embracing Productive Struggle

15:13 Embedding SEL in the Curriculum

22:16 The Importance of Failure and Grit

25:08 Leadership and SEL: Building a Supportive Community

29:39 Julie MacArthur's Journey to Administration

33:05 Advice for Aspiring Educational Leaders



Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Julie MacArthur: linkedin.com/in/julie-m-91168951



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About the Podcast

Principal Office Hours
Real principals. Real talk. No hall passes required.
Finally—a podcast that proves school principals have personalities (and killer insights, too). Every week, join us for candid conversations with K-12 principals who are navigating the beautiful chaos of educational leadership without losing their minds or sense of humor.

Each 40-minute episode features real principals sharing what actually works in school leadership—from handling helicopter parents and budget nightmares to building school culture that doesn't make everyone roll their eyes. Consider this your professional development that doesn't feel like professional development.

Our guests aren't afraid to share their epic fails alongside their victories. They'll tell you about the initiative that spectacularly bombed during assembly, right before revealing how they turned their school's reading scores around. It's educational leadership with the BS filter turned off.

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About your hosts

CheeTung Leong

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Jim Kanichirayil

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Your friendly neighborhood talent strategy nerd is the producer and co-host for The HR Impact Show. He's spent his career in sales and has been typically in startup b2b HRTech and TA-Tech organizations.

He's built high-performance sales teams throughout his career and is passionate about all things employee life cycle and especially employee retention and turnover.