78: Healing Before Learning — A Conversation with Dr. Bob Sokolowski

In this episode of SEL Convergence, Thom Stecher talks with Dr. Bob Sokolowski, retired superintendent of the West Chester Area School District, about his Education Week essay on healing, leadership, and the lasting impact of the pandemic on schools.Bob argues that healing and learning are intertwined, not sequential — schools can't expect academic success without first supporting students' emotional well-being. He describes the pandemic as a generational experience compounded by a digital age that arrived years ahead of schedule, and makes the case for personalized, human-centered education over one-size-fits-all systems.The conversation touches on building "safeguards" around technology, the risks of over-reliance on screens, and why strong leadership depends on truth-telling, relationships, and protecting staff so they can protect students. Bob also pushes back on the idea that empathy is a weakness, calling psychological safety essential rather than indulgent — and closes with a vision for schools that rebuild belonging and trust as the foundation for rigorous learning.Bob's Email Address:[email protected] Vaillancourt, CCRES HR Director:[email protected](484) 593 - 5038