What I Do:
I help inspire people to launch SEL programs, provide best practices for developing strong SEL programs, and train teachers to teach SEL skills in engaging and effective ways.
My Mission:
My mission is to make sure every student gets an engaging and collaborative high quality social and emotional learning based seminar that is taught by a dedicated, passionate, trained, and supported teacher within a positive class climate. I have seen the impact of this practice first hand and have observed it replicated at other schools. I intend to yell this message from the rooftops until it is a national practice.
Bio:
R. Keeth Matheny, M.S., is a model teacher, national trainer, and the 2015 recipient of the National Dropout Prevention Center’s Crystal Star Award for Excellence in supporting student success. He is the co-author of School-Connect, a highly acclaimed research and evidence based Social and Emotional Learning curriculum. He is also the driving force behind Austin ISD’s innovative SEL freshman seminar course, MAPS (Methods for Academic and Personal Success), which has helped reduce freshman failures by 41% and discipline referrals by 71% at Austin High School over a four-year period. The class has spread to many other schools with repeated success. Keeth is a frequent public speaker and keynote on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), student engagement, and relationship supports for educators. He has presented at two U.S. Capitol Hill briefings in Washington DC and over twelve national education conferences. His work has been featured in national webinars, magazine articles, and journals of best practices. Including recent articles in The Atlantic (Click Here), Facebook Education (Click Here), and EdWeek (Click Here).
As a member of the Aspen Institute’s Council of Distinguished Educators, he is directly connected with national leadership, current research, and best practices in the field. In the past four years, Keeth has helped launch SEL programs at over 360 schools.