Supporting Student Success and Well-Being by Modeling Social and Emotional Skills

In episode 13 of the Georgia Partnership's Ten-Minute Top Ten podcast, Joy Schofield describes how the Hall County School District uses Dialectical Skills Groups (DSG) to equip students with the tools to regulate their emotions, practice mindfulness, and pursue healthy interpersonal relationships.  

In this extended episode, Joy shares how school leaders executed the DSG strategy and describes how initial success allowed for expansion of supports to educators and parents. While originally intended as a behavioral intervention, teachers and school leaders report that the DSG strategy has improved school climate and parent and community involvement.   

The episode’s focus on student emotions and well-being aligns with the content covered in Issue 3 of the Top Ten Issues to Watch in 2025. 

For more on this topic, download the 2025 edition of the Top Ten Issues to Watch.  

Check out these additional resources. 

• The Dialectical Skills Group Model 
• Introduction to Tier 2 Interventions (Center on PBIS) 
• Helping Students Connect the Dots: Thoughts, Feelings, & Behaviors