Social and Emotional Learning Resources for Schools (SEL)

From the earliest entry into a school environment, students respond positively to teachers who actively listen, who encourage the development of new ideas, and who give them an opportunity to practice new skills. Social and emotional competencies can be taught, modeled, and practiced and lead to positive student outcomes that are important for success in school and in life. For social and emotional learning to be most effective, it is essential that districts and schools infuse the principles of social and emotional learning across curriculum and instruction, discipline, out-of-school time, and ongoing assessment for continuous improvement.

Lions Quest helps teachers create such an environment with a combination of online and professional development resources.

Lions Quest goes beyond academics to teach students how to make responsible decisions, set goals, be accountable for their actions, develop healthy relationships, resist peer pressure, and engage in community service.

Oklahoma Lions have been working with the Lions Quest program for over fifteen years. Lions of Oklahoma members give $10,000 each year towards a matching program grant with Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs International matches these funds for a 2 to 1 match amount each year for a Lions combined total of $30,000.00.

Training is completed each year around January or February in Ada, Oklahoma. Lions Quest performs two (2) workshops each year with about 30-35 senior education major students from East Central University. One workshop is for the elementary future educators and the other one is for the middle school educators. This equals to training 70 senior education major students at the university per year. All 70 senior educational major students receive certified training and a license to the curriculum to use in the classroom. 

Recently, because of Covid-19, Lions Quest is putting the curriculum in digital format so children can learn the systems from home as well as in the classroom. Each Instructor has access to the digital format.

The Oklahoma Lions Quest Director would like to see the program grow to include additional colleges in the State of Oklahoma, specifically to include the other two Oklahoma Lions districts. Recently, Wewoka Lions Club has started making plans to introduce the program through their local sports programs. Coaches and teachers will be trained to use the curriculum with students hoping to see the social, emotional, and academic behaviors of children improve. 

Testimonials: The head of the education department at East Central University makes this an assignment for senior education major students. Senior educational students receive points towards their grade; however, it is not a class the students obtain a college credit for. Students volunteer and request to go through the training certification because of the concepts presented and the success of the program. As teachers, they use the curriculum to deter behaviors that interrupt the students learning, while encouraging social and emotional learning. Once certification is complete, student educators are excited, and many are using the program still today. The East Central Education Department Head has been supportive of the program and has stated that as long as she is at the university, they will offer this program. One Educator told our Director Anthony Dowell, who took the program over 15 years ago, that she still uses the program and has seen tremendous results with challenged students. 

Quest Coordinator: PDG Anthony Dowell of the Lions club in Ada, Ok. Email: tonydowell@prodigy.net

Click here for Lions Quest International