transforming the educator practices that students experience
EMOTIONALLY INCLUSIVE PRACTICES™
“Emotions are the gateway to healthy relationships.” —Dr. Brian Dinkins
EMOTIONALLY INCLUSIVE PRACTICES™ (EIP) is the bridge between leadership vision and classroom experience within the Emotionally Inclusive Schools™ system.
Grounded in six core practices, EIP is a hybrid model that combines professional learning, implementation coaching, and a certification pathway to transform how educators show up—relationally, emotionally, and instructionally—for every student.
In schools across our country we are seeing a rise in the number of negative and confrontational interactions between students and teachers in the classroom and other school settings.
These student-teacher interactions and relationships have a high impact on the behavioral and academic outcomes of students in the classroom (Hamre & Pianta, 2001).
While many schools are implementing social-emotional learning for students, far fewer are building these same skills in the adults who shape the learning environment every day.
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At the same time, increasing diversity and the realities of student trauma require educators to be equipped with the awareness and skills to meet both student and adult needs.
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By developing the emotional intelligence, reflective awareness, and relational capacity of adults, EIP helps create environments where safety, belonging, and meaningful connection are intentionally built into daily practice.
WHAT EIP LOOKS LIKE IN ACTION
Emotionally Inclusive Practices™ is a practical, skill-based framework grounded in six core practices that transform daily educator behavior and student experience. Educators learn, practice, and apply these strategies in real-time, creating lasting shifts in classroom culture and relationships.
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EIP is designed to meet schools where they are, with flexible entry points that include stand-alone professional development, ongoing coaching, or a full certification pathway. This structure allows schools and districts to build capacity over time while ensuring consistent, aligned implementation.
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EIP is designed for: teachers, instructional coaches, counselors, behavior specialists, social workers, interventionists, support staff, and paraprofessionals.
PRACTICE 1
Emotional Intelligence
Learn to develop the ability to understand, manage, and use their emotions in a proactive and positive way.
PRACTICE 2
Restorative Community
Learn the skills necessary to build, repair, and enhance relationships within a collaboratively designed community.
PRACTICE 3
Reflective Awareness
Develop the ability to consciously examine one’s thoughts, emotions, decisions, and interactions in order to foster more intentional and fair-minded actions.
PRACTICE 4
Belonging
The intentional practices foster strong relationships by ensuring school stakeholders feel seen, valued, respected, and represented in the community.
PRACTICE 5
Trauma Sensitive
Develop an awareness, and understanding of trauma and learn skills and strategies that create safety, vulnerability, and support.
PRACTICE 6
Opportunity Pathways
Providing leaders, faculty, staff, and students with personalized support, resources, and learning opportunities so they become the best versions of themselves.
OUTCOMES OF IMPLEMENTING EIP IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES
Increased Emotional Intelligence of Faculty, Staff, and Students
Improved Classroom Management
Dramatic Reduction in Office Referrals
Improved Sense of Community and Belonging by Students and Teachers
Increased Engagement and Positive Academic Outcomes for Students
Decrease in Trauma Related Behaviors
Improved Teacher Satisfaction and Retention
Improved Peer-to-Peer and Student-Teacher Relationships
BRING EMOTIONALLY-INCLUSIVE PRACTICES TO YOUR COMMUNITY
Emotionally-Inclusive Practices™ is designed to meet your school or district where you are—with flexible entry points and ongoing support to build capacity over time.
Options include:
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Professional learning experiences (workshops, keynotes, and trainings)
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Ongoing coaching for leaders and educators
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Certification pathways for deeper implementation and alignment
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On-site or virtual delivery
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Small or large group formats
Contact us to explore what this could look like for your community.
“Dr. Dinkins has proven to be an invaluable resource for me and my school community.”
He has shared wisdom and successful strategy that has helped me develop as a leader. The best part is he has been right there with me, coaching and guiding me every step of the way.
JEREMY COLEMAN
PRINCIPAL, BROOKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“...a critical and strategic think partner in the development of our community engagement...”
Center for Empowering Education (CEE) under the leadership of Dr. Dinkins has been a critical and strategic think partner in the development of our community engagement and leadership development initiatives.
CASSANDRA ANDERSON
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UNCF
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“...significantly improved our ability to model social and emotional learning needs...”
Dr. Dinkins emotional intelligence training for our teachers significantly improved our ability to model social and emotional learning needs for our students. He made an asserted effort to imbed context around addressing our implicit bias and cultural awareness.
JASON SMITH
PRINCIPAL, STONYBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL