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Houston County Schools' new program helps students with social-emotional learning

A nonprofit awarded Houston County Schools nearly $400,000 to fund their Second Step program for their students

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Cameron Hicks says sixth grade was a bit overwhelming.

"In the beginning of the year, I didn't want to make a lot of friends, I just wanted to just stay with my closest friends," Hicks said.

A special program at his school made it easier to adapt.

"Second Step is a social-emotional learning curriculum, and over the course of this last year, we implemented Second Step to the kids in our preschool classrooms and our 6th grade classrooms," Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Zabrina Cannady said.

Students develop people skills and talking through their emotions through a video program and open class discussion. 

School Counselor Jay Wood says it's made a difference.

"I can tell you, for me this year, the number of counselor referrals went down because there's this program where kids were building a stronger relationship with the teacher they're with and they sometimes they would share with them," Wood said.

"We learned like how to accept each other and not bully each other and things like that," Hicks said.

The nearly-$400,000 grant will expand the social emotional learning program to all of the district's elementary and middle schools impacting over 21,000 students next school year.

Wood and Cannady say it's a proactive approach to help students navigate bigger issues.

"The mass shootings you hear about it's a kid that's been isolated. Well, now, we're dedicating an hour every week to build relationships," Wood said.

"They need to be taught how to use social media in appropriate ways just like they have to be taught how to act in appropriate ways," Cannady said.

"My initial thoughts were, 'I don't really need this, I'm just not going to pay attention,' but by the 3rd episode and the end, I was like, 'That could really help me in life,'" 6th grader Brantley Wallace said.

Bibb County Schools said they've received a state grant to fund a similar program called Ripple Effects to help at-risk students with social-emotional learning.

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