About Us

SELF-A (Social And Emotional Learning For All) was founded for the purpose of delivering high quality, on demand, Social and Emotional Learning Skills programming for the youth of New York City and the organizations that work with them. As the world moves ever faster, social interactions continue to be progressively more remote, with more and more taking place through and being shaped by technology. Messages about identity, what life and relationships should look like, and how to grow into a “mature” human come from family, friends, social media, influencers, therapists, religion, culture, and an infinite other number of other sources.

Research-based SEL education supports youth in managing the stress of growing up, creating identity, learning to communicate and manage their emotions, and building the foundational tools for a future of strong and healthy relationships with themselves and others. SELF-A takes this a step further and integrates learning about the psychological and physiological effects within their own bodies as they navigate different situations.

We organize our curriculum around the comprehensive CASEL Framework, with over 30 years of research supporting its effectiveness, and was designed to meet Department of Education guidelines for SEL programs and DYCD parameters for leadership training. Many companies offer computer-based and virtual SEL Education. Our in-person, activity-based curriculum utilizes games, prop and discussion based debriefs, and somatic emotional regulation skills (breathwork, tapping, body awareness exercises) to allow students to practice in real time and stay engaged and excited for each new lesson.

Bring in a SELF-A instructor for a trial class and see for yourself the value of working with us and offer your students this unique opportunity to improve academic achievement, better well-being, future success, and the tools they need to become successful adults.

The CASEL Framework

SELF-A programs are based around the CASEL Framework. The foundational pillars of which are:

Self Awareness

The ability to understand and reflect on one’s own emotions, thoughts, values, and how these factors influence behavior in various situations. This involves recognizing personal strengths and limitations while maintaining a grounded sense of confidence and purpose.

Self Management

The ability to recognize one’s emotional state and how it affects their thoughts and behaviors. As this awareness grows, individuals can also develop the skills to effectively transition between emotional states, manage stress, cultivate internal motivation, and develop a sense of personal agency to accomplish personal and collective goals.

Relationship Skills

The ability to build and maintain healthy, supportive relationships and effectively interact with diverse individuals and groups. This includes skills in clear communication, setting expectations and boundaries, active listening, cooperation, collaborative problem-solving, and constructive conflict resolution (including taking personal accountability and properly apologizing). It also involves navigating environments with varying social and cultural expectations, providing leadership, and knowing when and how to seek or offer help.

Social Awareness

The ability to understand and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. This involves feeling compassion for others, recognizing the broader historical and social norms that shape behavior in different settings, and identifying available resources and supports within family, school, and community environments.

Decision Making

The ability to make thoughtful and constructive choices regarding personal behavior and social interactions in a variety of situations. This involves considering ethical standards, safety, and understanding the potential benefits and consequences of actions for individual, social, and collective well-being.

Our Team

Founder

David Kelly has been in the field of education since 2009 and has worked all across the industry. Starting as a martial arts teacher and challenge course facilitator/supervisor at his university and program director for multiple summer camps, he initially earned his B.S. in Parks and Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University in 2010, specializing in Experiential Education and Leadership.

After graduating, David worked with the Warrior Adventure Quest program helping soldiers with PTSD reintegrate back into civilian society utilizing outdoor adventure activities and ran outdoor adventure programs in Colorado. David moved back to Flagstaff, Arizona to teach at BASIS Charter School, run educational programs for the NAU Outdoor Recreation program, and teach dance and martial arts.

Following Flagstaff, David took an Assistant Director and Head Programmer position for a low-income community center job in Tucson, AZ running their after-school programming, community fitness programs, and special holiday programs. He then moved to the jungles of Malaysia as the Operations Manager and Head Trainer for Nomad Adventure Outdoor Education, where he was responsible for developing the curriculum and training staff to take up to 200 international school students out on 4-day long educational jungle adventures, as well as providing corporate development and team-building seminars.

David moved to NYC to fulfill the same role for what has become one of the largest youth extracurricular programming providers in the city and has maintained his work as an educational consultant and trainer. In 2021, David started a successful Medical Massage practice and a Medical Massage Continuing Education Program which are still active today.

In his over 20 years as an educator, facilitator, and consultant, David has worked at multiple outdoor education centers, charter schools, camps, and community centers throughout the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore as an operations manager, head trainer, program/curriculum designer, instructor, corporate facilitator, and educational consultant. He has worked with thousands of youth and run professional development trainings for hundreds of teams, teachers, facilitators. He has a passion for bridging the line between education and play. He brings this incredible wealth of experience and knowledge to SELF-A, its instructors, and our valued clients.

Staff

At SELFA, we aspire to deliver the highest quality of programming, and recognize that can only be accomplished with instructors of outstanding quality and ongoing passion for developing the next generations. Our instructors come from backgrounds of children’s education, psychology, social services, and education/behavioral science college programs, as well as experienced facilitators and former school teachers.

All instructors go through extensive and continuing additional training in classroom management, behavioral management, experiential education theory, and non-violent communication. We partner with instructors who are passionate about this work and making it a career rather than a temporary job.