Local Spotlight: How Schools are Incorporating Kindness Curricula

Across districts, educators are embedding kindness into the school day through structured curricula, experiential projects, and restorative practices. This feature highlights inspiring examples and provides resources for teachers and administrators who want to replicate success.

Why teach kindness?

Schools influence social norms for a generation. Teaching kindness isn't just about manners — it's about building empathy, improving conflict resolution, and creating safer learning environments. Evidence shows that social-emotional learning (SEL) improves academic outcomes and reduces behavioral incidents.

Program highlights

Sunrise Elementary: The Kindness Lab

Sunrise runs a weekly "Kindness Lab" where students prototype small community projects. Past projects include a buddy bench, a plant-sharing program, and a pen-pal exchange with a local senior center. The lab emphasizes design thinking: students research needs, prototype interventions, and present results to families.

Riverside High: Peer Support Ambassadors

Riverside trains juniors and seniors as Peer Support Ambassadors who provide listening sessions and help refer peers to counseling. The program reduced disciplinary incidents and increased help-seeking behavior among students.

Greenfield Charter: Restorative Circles

Greenfield adopted restorative circles to resolve conflicts. Instead of punitive suspensions, students and staff engage in facilitated conversations that prioritize accountability and repair. The school reports improved relationships and lower repeat offenses.

Teacher resources and curriculum

There are modular curricula that teachers can adopt or adapt:

• Short daily empathy exercises (5–10 minutes).
• Weekly reflection journals on kind acts and observations.
• Project-based modules linking kindness to civic engagement.

Measuring outcomes

Schools measure success through attendance, disciplinary referrals, peer nominations, and student wellbeing surveys. Qualitative feedback from parents and staff is also valuable for assessing cultural shifts.

Tips for starting in your school

1. Begin with a pilot in one grade level and collect quick feedback.
2. Train a small group of teachers as champions and provide release time for planning.
3. Engage families early through take-home activities and celebration events.

Funding and partnerships

Small grants, PTA fundraising, and partnerships with local nonprofits can fund materials and training. Some districts allocate minimal professional development days for SEL training, which can be repurposed for kindness curricula workshops.

Voices from educators

"When students learn to frame conflicts as opportunities for repair, the entire school climate shifts." — Principal Dana Martin, Greenfield Charter

Challenges

Time constraints, standardized testing pressure, and uneven buy-in can impede adoption. Successful programs align SEL with existing standards and demonstrate short-term wins to build momentum.

Case study outcomes

Sunrise Elementary saw a 30% reduction in office referrals within a year of launching Kindness Labs. Riverside High reported a 20% increase in students seeking peer support. These outcomes are encouraging and suggest that modest investments can yield meaningful culture changes.

Conclusion

Integrating kindness into school curricula is both feasible and impactful. Programs that combine daily rituals, student agency, and restorative practices create safer, more engaged learning communities. For educators looking to start, the best approach is a small, measurable pilot with committed champions and community partnerships.