Sowing the SEED of emotional health

Suzie Harrison

Supt. Theresa Daem exuded enthusiasm in anticipation of the school

year in the Laguna Beach Unified School District after attending the

back-to-school breakfast Sept. 8.

She said the district has been looking into improving its effort

to meet the needs of its students. One new method was the creation of

SEED, Social Emotional Education Development, a subcommittee of Quest

for Excellence.

SEED’s goal is to strengthen the emotional well-being of students.

The program is part of a response to a student survey taken in

2002 that students had excessive worries about good grades, homework,

being accepted by peers, applying to college, test scores and feeling

safe on campus.

Laguna resident Don Lowry is now the marketing director for SEED

and was responsible for the presentation of the True Colors

Interactive Show that he founded 25 years ago. He said helping

students feel positive about themselves garners better attendance,

higher grades and less conflict.

On Sept. 7, the district kicked off the school year with its staff

development day, which focused on SEED.

Daem’s role is to oversee the subcommittee as the chair of Quest

for Excellence.

“Our function is to prepare students to be successful

individuals,” Daem said. “Common sense tells us that students who

experience strong social and emotional well-being are much more

likely to simultaneously experience successes in the other aspects of

their lives. Organizing ourselves to create and support this

foundation is at once a critical issue and a wonderful opportunity.”

The True Colors Interactive Show highlights four different

personality types and how each views the world, interacts and

responds to people and situations, illustrating how teachers might

want to react to students based on their type.

“‘True Colors really understands differences and how people are

motivated to learn,” Lowry said.

SEED co-chair Betsy Gosselin said that when Quest for Excellence

delved into the characterizations of education, it saw that the

concept needed to expand to include social and emotional needs.

“We want to go forward -- I’ve produced programs all over the

U.S., the biggest [benefit] is fostering a positive attitude, a

change in attitude,” Lowry said.

Parents will have the opportunity to hear more about SEED’s

programs and goals at the first PTA Coffee Break in October.