STARS Academy
Blooming in SEL
Tuscaloosa City Schools
Principal: Dr. Donmonique Morgan
Superintendent: Dr. Michael Daria
Blooming in SEL was a school-developed, research-based social-emotional learning initiative that served all K–12 students at STARS Academy, with intentional design for students in an alternative setting. Implemented during the 2024–2025 school year, the program integrated gardening, mentorship, leadership development, and entrepreneurship to strengthen emotional regulation, resilience, and relationship skills. For Grades K–5, Schoolyard Roots facilitated standards-aligned gardening lessons that embedded science instruction with CASEL SEL competencies. Students practiced emotion labeling, teamwork, mindfulness, and self-management while engaging in hands-on planting and journaling experiences aligned to individualized SEL goals. For Grades 6–12, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® provided structured mentorship, leadership development, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Students participated in garden planning, crop maintenance, and a biannual student-led plant sale, where they applied cost analysis, marketing, financial literacy, and customer-service skills. Designed for students with behavioral, emotional, or mental-health needs, Blooming in SEL provided a regulated, relationship-centered outdoor environment that supported de-escalation and crisis prevention. The garden served as a therapeutic sensory space embedded into behavior plans and restorative practices. By integrating academic standards, Whole Child principles, and multi-agency collaboration at STARS Academy, Blooming in SEL provided structured opportunities for students to experience calm, connection, accomplishment, and ownership while ensuring they grew academically, socially, and behaviorally.
