With an unlikely about-face on his own educational journey, Chris Balme went from a student dissatisfied with the traditional education system to a passionate advocate for the transformative power of middle school education, and an expert on how social emotional learning unlocks it. If you're a middle school educator or leader, this episode is for you. 

In this episode, Chris highlights the importance of understanding the transformative nature of middle school and the need to create a supportive environment for students as they navigate this crucial stage of significant physical, emotional, and social changes during a period that plays a pivotal role in shaping students' character and attitudes towards learning. 

In this conversation with Wayfinder’s Head of Marketing Morgan Joseph, Chris explains why students' middle school experiences are critical in defining who they become as adults and addresses the unique needs and challenges of this age group.

Chris Balme, an innovative educator and school leader, has dedicated his career to transforming the middle school experience. With a passion for social-emotional learning (SEL) and a deep understanding of the challenges middle school students face, Chris has made it his mission to help them navigate this critical stage in their lives. As the co-founder of Millennium School in San Francisco and the current principal of an international lab school in Japan, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. His focus on project-based learning and advisory programs has not only shaped the lives of his students but also inspired educators around the world.

Chris’ new school Hakuba International School is hiring! Learning about job opportunities on their website.

Read Chris’ book Finding The Magic of Middle School

Learn more about SEL with Wayfinder

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Watch the video version of the ep on

 Wayfinder's YouTube Channel

When Leatrice Woods noticed a stark contrast between elementary and middle school teaching approaches, she took action to bridge the gap with social emotional learning. 

Leatrice Woods, the dedicated Assistant Principal at Skyline Middle School in Harrison, Virginia, has consistently prioritized the social and emotional wellbeing of her students. With a background in elementary education, Leatrice brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about integrating social emotional learning into every day of the week up to middle school. Listen to hear Leatrice break down her successful SEL implementation and how Skyline has embraced a regular schedule of SEL activities, incorporating gratitude, mindset and other practices to foster feelings of empathy, love, and trust among students and staff alike.

Learn more about SEL with Wayfinder

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Watch the video version of the ep on

 Wayfinder's YouTube Channel

Jenna Madsen, a 9th and 10th grade English teacher at Maria Carillo High in Santa Rosa, California is a passionate SEL advocate. She integrates the five pillars of social emotional health into her core content area with an inspiring blend of enthusiasm and inclusivity.

In this episode, we discuss the when and how of Jenna's method for bringing SEL learning in her classroom, what it is about SEL that creates a safe learning environment for students have rich, meaningful conversations about the literature they’re reading for class, and how SEL supports student engagement on difficult topics that arise in those same books. 

This episode is a must listen for teachers wanting to integrate SEL into their core curriculum at the secondary level.

Learn more about SEL with Wayfinder

Follow us on: 

Instagram + Twitter @wayfinder_edu

Find us on LinkedIn

Watch the video version of the ep on Wayfinder's YouTube Channel