Ashoka
Lake Forest Park Elementary is a leader in social and emotional learning in the Shoreline School District and in the state of Washington. After learning about Roots of Empathy, a program through which a mother and her baby collaborate with a classroom to teach students about empathy and emotions, Lake Forest Park Principal Aimee Miner championed bringing the program to her school. She and kindergarten teacher Laurie Pearson piloted Roots of Empathy, then shared the results with other principals and district leaders. Now all elementary schools in Shoreline School District use the Roots of Empathy program, and during the 2012-2013 school year, Lake Forest Park received the Title I Nationally Distinguished Schools designation. Aimee attributes this to Roots of Empathy and other efforts the school has put in place to support the whole child.