It’s August—a new year, new students, and a refreshed you. If you are like every other educator in America, you’ve probably already begun labeling supplies, setting up your new bulletin boards, and watching your yearly safety videos. And somewhere amid the chaos of getting ready for a new year, you’ve probably whispered a prayer like:

Lord, help me be a light this year. Give me patience, strength, and influence in this new season.

At times, working in a public school as a Christian can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to bring Jesus into your classroom because He is the most important part of who you are, but you must also be mindful of the public school setting. You want to show His love, but also lead with wisdom and respect for all of your students. 

Well, we have good news for you: You do not need to preach a sermon, write Bible verses on your whiteboard, or say the name of Jesus to show your students His love. Simply being the hands and feet of Jesus, through kindness, patience, and compassion, serves as a powerful witness. His light shines through your presence, your tone, and your choices. 

And here’s more good news: Modeling is not the only way to reflect God’s heart in a public school. Another recent trend in education presents Christian educators with an additional legal and effective way to teach and model biblical principles in public schools: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).

Maybe your school has adopted an SEL curriculum, or you’re being asked to weave it into your daily instruction. Perhaps you’ve heard whispers, warnings, or concerns about SEL programs:

Is this going to compromise my beliefs? 

Can I teach this and stay true to my faith? 

What exactly is SEL anyway?

Trust us, you are not alone in asking those questions.

At Generous Classroom, we understand these concerns. It’s natural to feel hesitant, especially if SEL is new or unfamiliar. Sometimes, it’s portrayed as overly secular, agenda-driven, or even going against faith completely. These concerns deserve to be addressed with honesty and discernment. 

So, we researched the goals and competencies of SEL. And, after serving as part of a team of educators who created a biblical framework for Generous Classroom’s SEL curriculum called Generous Students, we can assure you that SEL is not inherently anti-faith. Truly, at its foundation, it’s deeply aligned with Christ's heart. While it’s true that public school SEL doesn’t explicitly teach Scripture, most of the principles in SEL—such as kindness, empathy, patience, and self-control—are rooted in biblical values. In fact, these qualities are ones that Jesus lived out every day. He didn’t just teach these principles; He embodied them. Jesus saw people, named their pain, listened with empathy, and took time to care. 

Christian educators, SEL isn’t something to fear. When approached with openness and discernment, it can become a powerful tool to help students understand how to live well in relationships with themselves and others, manage their emotions, set goals, make wise decisions, reflect the attributes of Christ, and so much more. 

We also encourage you to show your students Generous Classroom’s free video "I Like Teachers.” This video shares the true story of how one small act of generosity can start a ripple effect of generosity throughout a school. While students watch, invite them to identify the ways the school community lives generously in the video. To learn more about the work of Generous Classroom, biblical SEL, and other school resources, visit generousclassroom.com.

Kierstin Toth is the Vice President of Generous Classroom, an organization committed to helping students live lives of gratitude and generosity. 

Dana Brady is the Director of Content and Learning at Generous Classroom. As a former teacher and counselor, Dana is passionate about SEL and helping kids grow in kindness, empathy, and faith.