April 3, 2025
A group of seven pre-service teachers from Columbia College recently had the opportunity to share their work on social-emotional learning (SEL) and restorative practices at the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience (NYAR) Conference in Savannah, Georgia.
The students participated in a panel presentation on March 4 titled "Caring & Leading: Pre-Service Teachers Explore SEL and Restorative Practices in a Peer-Facilitated Book Club." Their session highlighted the power of peer-led learning as they reflected on their experiences reading and discussing strategies to build more caring, inclusive classroom environments.
The presenters—Alyssa Throne (Elementary Education), Audra McCloy (Early Childhood Education), Kat Ryan (English Education), Sabrina Fitzsimmons (English Education), Kylie Terrell (Elementary Education), Kristen Owens (English Education), and Rikki George (Education Studies)—shared takeaways from their book club, offering practical insights for fellow educators and students alike. Their work emphasized the importance of creating supportive spaces for both learners and teachers, grounded in research-based approaches to SEL and restorative practices.
This presentation not only marked a milestone in their professional development but also served as a model for how future educators can take the lead in promoting positive change in schools.