2020 created a period of incredible disconnect between so many students, educators, families during the world-wide pandemic. A huge number of students struggled with engagement, motivation and ultimately academic progress. Many teachers struggled to make meaningful connections as students resisted turning on cameras, showing up consistently, engaging in conversations etc. The emotional/psychological toll on kids and adults is still to be discovered, but what is true beyond a doubt is that the social/emotional well-being of all involved must now be paramount to school leaders across the world. For an SEL focus to be effective in schools, it must start with leaders who trust the research, believe that you can't get to Blooms without going through Maslow and that feelings/emotions aren't SOFT skills but HARD science. This session will focus on leadership and provide cutting edge research on how important feelings and emotions are to increase emotional safety, motivation, engagement.