The key to unlocking student engagement and success may have as much to do with how teachers curate a successful social-emotional learning environment as their ability as instructors, says Karen G. Foley, president and CEO of JPA Chicago, a mental health nonprofit, on “The University Business Podcast.”

However, before teachers can bridge deeper connections with their students, they might first need help with their own self-development. “We oftentimes don’t think much about training with adults about social-emotional development. We figure we’re cooked, but we’re not done growing.”

Over the past decade, JPA has expanded its assistance from families to the classroom by pairing teachers with mental health consultants through the Connect to Kids initiative, which has expanded into a pilot program with National Louis University.