5 Actionable Steps for School Administrators to Boost Student Well-Being

5 Actionable Steps for School Administrators to Boost Student Well-Being

LM
Leonardo MaciasEducational Administrator , New York City Public Schools
4 min read

In schools across the country, student well-being has emerged as one of the most urgent priorities in education. Rising levels of anxiety, chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, and emotional fatigue: among both students and staff are demanding more than academic fixes [1][2][3].

Social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health supports are no longer considered supplemental. They are essential pillars of a successful, inclusive, and safe school culture [1]. And school administrators are in a unique position to lead this work—not just through policy, but by shaping the culture, systems, and structures that support emotional well-being every day.

Here are five tangible ways administrators can act now.

1. Prioritize Emotional Safety - "Bring SEL into the Light—For All to See."

Building a culture of emotional safety starts at the top. When students feel seen and safe, they are more likely to engage, take risks, and learn [1].

Try This:

  • Open staff meetings with a two-minute breathing exercise or group check-in.

  • Dedicate a room or area in your building as a wellness space—a calming environment where overwhelmed students can reset.

  • Celebrate students who show empathy, teamwork, or kindness with as much recognition as academic achievement.

Creating visible systems that support emotional wellness sends a clear message: we value the whole child.

2. Train and Empower Your Staff to Respond Confidently - "Confident Staff, Compassionate Classrooms."

Your teachers are on the front lines of emotional support, but many lack formal training in SEL or trauma-informed practices [4].

Try This:

  • Invite local therapists, counselors, or SEL experts to run professional development workshops.

  • Launch a monthly “SEL Spotlight” where one staff member shares a quick win or strategy during your faculty meeting.

  • Create a shared Google folder with resources, sentence stems for de-escalation, and classroom SEL tools.

SEL is not “one more thing”: it’s a better way to do everything. When staff feel supported and prepared, they’re more likely to integrate SEL into their daily practice.

3. Embed SEL into the Daily Rhythm of the School Day - "SEL Every Day, in Every Way."

For SEL to stick, it must go beyond the health class or counselor’s office. It needs to be part of your school's rhythm.

Try This:

  • Build short daily check-ins into homeroom, advisory, or morning announcements.

  • Ask teachers to add reflection prompts to assignments like: “How did you handle frustration during this project?”

  • Use restorative circles to repair harm instead of defaulting to suspensions or detentions.

When SEL becomes a natural part of classroom routines, students learn to process emotions, build resilience, and relate to others more effectively [5].

4. Strengthen Access to Mental Health Services - "Make Reliable Support Reachable."

Even with a strong SEL foundation, students sometimes need more intensive support. Accessible, timely mental health services are critical [6].

Try This:

  • Partner with local hospitals or behavioral health centers to create pathways to services that are efficient.

  • Explore telehealth services for under-resourced areas.

A strong tiered support system ensures that no student falls through the cracks.

5. Engage Families as Co-Creators of Wellness - "Wellness Is a Team Effort“

Families are their children's first teachers when it comes to emotional skills. But many need tools and support from schools.

Try This:

  • Host family workshops on topics like managing stress, screen time, or teen communication.

  • Translate SEL resources into multiple languages and include them in school newsletters or back-to-school packets.

  • Share quick videos or infographics explaining how students can access mental health resources at school.

Engaged families are powerful allies in creating emotionally resilient learning communities.

Leading the Way

As an administrator, your leadership matters. When you normalize emotional check-ins, invest in staff training, and create systems for mental health support, you signal that well-being is foundational, not optional.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with one small, consistent action and build from there. Your efforts can help transform not just the culture of your school, but the lives of the young people in it.

References

  1. CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning). What is SEL?

  2. CDC. Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report (2023).

  3. Gallup. K–12 Workers Least Engaged, Most Burned Out (2022). 

  4. Education Week. Survey Shows Educators Need More Support for Student Mental Health (2023).

  5. Durlak, J. et al. (2011). The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions. Review of Educational Research.

  6. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Mental Health Services in Public Schools (2023).