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38 Sheila Veatch WORDS: Lela Rast Hartsaw MAIN PICTURE: Whitney Patton Manatee County can boast a history of phenomenal educators. Many have had schools named after them, such as James Tillman, Marjorie G. Kinnan, Jessie P. Miller, and Florine J. Abel. Some others are retired and still very much involved in local education - volunteering on committees, visiting classrooms, and advocating for public education locally and nationwide. One such woman, who grew up here, has enjoyed a storied career beyond our county lines. After starting her teaching career at Myakka City School, Sheila Veatch went ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ New Guinea, and in Kenya (East Africa). In 2006, her family returned to Florida, and Sheila worked at the state level as �������� ���������������������� ������ ������������������������ ���������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ recently as the Literacy Coordinator in St. ������������������������������ Last month, Sheila accepted a position with ����������������������������������������������������������Collaborative Classroom, an organization that develops resources and professional development to assist schools with literacy instruction built on social-emotional learning. She and her husband, Devan, live in St. Augustine with their youngest son, Jack (17), a high school senior. Nathan (20), the �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� in Mississippi, where he is majoring in Aviation Management. Their oldest son Sam, and his wife Heather, reside in Orlando, where Sam helps manage a �������������������� �������������� ������������ �������� ������ ������������������ his own graphic design business, while Heather teaches 2nd grade at Keeth ������������������������ �������������������� �������������� ������ ���������� another teacher in the family.) Sheila describes herself as “believer, wife, mother, educator, writer, inconsistent slow-runner, experimental cook, and �������������������������������� �������� �������������������� �������� �������� and downs of life with an amazing family.” The Veatch family provides a snapshot of how adoption can create beautiful families that cross racial barriers. Veatch has chronicled their journey the modern way, via a blog called KaribuAdoptionLife. Karibu, she explains, is the Swahili word for welcome and the blog is her way of “sharing personal ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ but-normal life; the highs and lows of adoption, trans-racial families, and raising boys to be good men, while working, living, and running to keep up.” From our perspective, it looks like Veatch is doing more than “keeping up”. She is truly making a difference. Speaking recently at the Early Learning ������������������������ ���������� ���������������� ���������������������� on Young Children at Manatee Technical College, Veatch shared her passion for Social-Emotional Learning, which she believes is the key to positive outcomes in K-12 education. Veatch said: “We want our children to be able to set goals for themselves and make good decisions, whether those children are 3 or 23. Children are taught these skills, referred to as social emotional competencies, from birth onwards, by observing their family members, friends, and community members in everyday settings.” These skills and abilities are crucial to ������������ ���������������������� ������������������������ �������� �������� important for learning. Veatch added: �������������������� �������� �������� �������� �������� ������������ ���������� strong social-emotional cues have been shown to receive less instruction, to feel unsure about their ability to learn, and to experience fewer moments to learn from classmates. In these days of high stakes testing and rigorous learning standards when many students feel overwhelmed at even the youngest of levels, the foundation of social and emotional competencies is more important than ever.” ���������� �������� �������� �������� �������������������������� �������������� emotional competences? Self-awareness – How do my actions affect another person? Self-management – The importance of following home or classroom rules. Social awareness – Recognizing emotions in others. Relationship management – Making friends and having positive relationships (which is key to success in school at every level). Responsible decision-making – Learning that good decisions result in constructive outcomes. ���������� ���������������� ������������ ���������������������� ���������� ���������� parents of young children, may be thinking, �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� three-year-old to sit still for 30 seconds.” Veatch teaches us to realize that skills develop over time and with maturity. She said: “Self-management should and will look much different in a two-year-old as compared to an eight-year-old. In order


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