Harness positive psychology,
create conditions for thriving.
Educational Assessment, Consulting & Training for Thriving School Climates
Our Mission
To support institutions of learning create places of thriving, growth, peace and synergy by
empowering individuals to navigate their inner-spaces (i.e., feelings , thoughts and goals).
Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators
Train-the-trainer model to incorporate social-emotional learning, positive psychology, mindfulness, anxiety management, and other well-being topics into daily routines means programs are applied and sustainable.
Research shows that daily integration restorative practices in classrooms yields positive results for student behavior, learning, and class climate. The Astronauts create a sustainable, scalable program, owned by teachers and administrators to facilitate independence and cultural shift.
Student SEL Sessions
Classes receive deeper training in Social Emotional Learning Skills.
Sessions are based on the 5 core competencies outlined by the Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL). Program cycles can be 8-35 weeks, depending on school needs and program availability. Available in Spanish and English, sessions include CASEL's 5 core competencies:
Parent Courses
Parent Involvement drives up school climate, academic performance, and success measures.
The Astronauts program involves parents as primary members of the school community by offering courses for parents to learn the same SEL techniques their children are learning, to build closer relationship with the school staff, and to reduce stress. Available in Spanish, English, or both.
Schoolwide Assemblies
Supported by Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Music is an excellent way to convey SEL through cultural enrichment. The Astronauts program brings professional musicians to schools to teach children and adults about the power of music and Social Emotional Learning. Assemblies can be held in English, Spanish, or both. Ask about offerings for nonprofits and low-resourced communities.
School Culture & Climate Consulting
Helping leaders catalyze powerful change
Measuring SEL skills is tricky business, and figuring out what students and teachers need to thrive can be challenging. Nonetheless, data-based decision-making requires data collection, analysis and visualization. The Astronauts takes the guesswork out of this process by leveraging some of the latest research-validated and reliable assessments (xSEL, MEFS, DESSA) for students and staff to get a whole-picture understanding of the state of school climate, student strengths and limitations, and the interventions that will be most impactful in addressing these. Talk to us today about how our research can support your school or district.
The Astronauts Improves School Climate
For Students, Teachers, Administrators, Mental Health Support Staff, and Parents
Multiple independent assessments of program impact show that the Astronauts SEL program is successful in helping school communities become vibrant and set up for learning. Contact our team today to set up a free initial consultation.
High quality SEL programming has real effects in school.
Durlak et al., 2011
Meta-analyses show that high-quality SEL programming gives students an 11-percentile average academic increase, improvement in pro-social behavior, decrease in disruptive behaviors and many other school climate metric improvements.
Program Outcomes
Here are 3 SEL-general and specific program outcomes.
Improved Behavior
and Mental Health
Wellbeing matters
The Astronauts assesses student mental health measures using scales like BYI-2 (anger, anxiety, depression, disruptive behavior, and self-concept), and strength-based scales before and after the program. Notably, among other improvements, of the 66 high school students who participated in a 2018 internal study at measuring against control classes, Astronauts students showed a 3.6 times greater reduction in anger levels. In a 2017-18 sample, 126 out of 140 student reported increased focus, energy and displayed improved emotional intelligence strengths after Astronauts program implementations.
Improved Academic
Results
SEL Improves Academics
When students feel safe and secure, not stressed and anxious, the parts of their brain responsible for executive functioning are most active. In a 2011 meta-analysis of over 271,000 students, SEL Programs showed increases to API by 11 percentile points (Durlak et al., 2011). The Astronauts uses evidence-based strategies presented in these programs to deliver high quality programs.
Decreased Teacher Burnout
SEL keeps the fire alive for teachers.
Even for a passionate and dedicated teacher, burnout can mean the end of a career. Burnout is a costly systemic symptom of an struggling school climate. The Astronauts SEL program measures teacher burnout before and after program implementation to assess its impact on teacher wellbeing, and as a consequence improving the quality of education for students.
Astro-stats
When EQ (emotional intelligence) goes Viral.
Impact data derived from self-reported evaluations of program.
$51,000
Funding received to bring SEL and Music Programs to Title 1 Schools in 2017-2018.
17,000+
Students, teachers, administrators, and parents reached by Martín Blank, Astronauts founder.
91% of teachers
participating in 2018-19 Astronauts Professional Development said sessions were "engaging and highly impactful" (N = 342)
3.6
times lower anger-levels by students who participated in 6-week Astronauts programs as compared to control classes.
(Beck Youth Inventory-2, p=0.04, N=66)
Martín Blank, MAPP, RYT
Astronauts SEL Founder and Executive Director
A former 4th-grade teacher, professional musician and certified 200H yoga teacher, Martín Blank founded The Astronauts SEL Program to help all kids have the skills to regulate and express emotions in productive ways. He has implemented and taught Social Emotional Learning (SEL), stress-management and meditation programs to over 15,000 students, administrators, and teachers across North America. His work with Sky Schools in teaching breathing and meditation to high-stress schools has been featured on PBS Nova's 2016 The Future of Schools. Martín holds a MAPP degree (Master in Applied Positive Psychology) from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was awarded the Christopher Peterson Memorial Fellowship in 2018. He also studied education, philosophy, and social change at UC Berkeley, as well as Jazz Studies at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA.
Fred Luskin, Ph.D.
Program Advisor
Frederic Luskin, PhD is the author of best-selling Forgive for Good and Forgive for Love and one of the world's leading researchers and teachers on the subject of forgiveness. He is the director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, a series of research projects that have validated his forgiveness methods. He is a Lecturer in Wellness at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Department Chair of Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He lives in Redwood City, California and has given expert guidance throughout the development of The Astronauts SEL program.
Anna Lucas, MAPP, RYT
Professional Development Facilitator
Anna Lucas is a wellbeing consultant, professional development facilitator, coach and community builder passionate about the power of bringing people together to create and sustain positive change for our world. Anna studied Psychology and Leadership as an undergraduate student and earned her Master's in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Anna brings over 10 years of experience ranging from organizing community health projects, managing experiential education programs, and directing research initiatives. Her consulting practice is centered on the power of connection to facilitate positive change, and is grounded in the science of positive psychology, community psychology, and positive organizational scholarship. Anna supports individuals, organizations, and communities at the intersection of community, connection, culture, and wellbeing.
Michael Edwards, M.S.Ed.
Curricular Advisor
Mike Edwards has taught elementary school for a decade, including eight years in a high-trauma and economically disadvantaged school. Teaching young children, he has embedded mindfulness and breathing into his craft. He is formally trained on a variety of SEL programs, and uses nontraditional approaches to address social emotional learning. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UC Berkeley and a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Cal State East Bay. He is recently married; his wife is a school psychologist. He is an avid world traveler and sailor, with a passion for learning about humanity.
Sharon J. Tom
Peer Mediation Program Trainer
Sharon has been a practitioner and trainer in the field of Conflict Resolution for over 20 years. Her primary focus has been assisting families, schools and businesses in resolving their disputes.
She started out as a volunteer with Mediation Services of Castro Valley and eventually become the Executive Director of the organization. From there, she branched out into her
own business, ‘Ohana Resource Group, as a family mediator and parenting coach. Sharon teaches conflict resolution, peer-to-peer mediation through the Astronauts SEL high school program.
Jonny Popovich, BFA
SEL through Art & Fitness Instructor
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jonny received a BA in Fine Arts from San Francisco State University. After college he began his career as a fine artist making oil paintings and has taught Art at Galileo Summer Camp for several summers. In 2015-16, Jonny spent 19 months traveling abroad, where making street art and murals. He now has several murals in various countries as well as around the US. His passions are health, fitness, and mindfulness and he is currently undergoing the Kresser Institute's year-long health coach training. He has always loved teaching and learning, and considers it an incredible opportunity to work with students in innovative Astronauts partner programs.
Eli Goldlink
Music Programs Director
Eli Goldlink, co-founder of the Astronauts music non-profit branch, is a pianist and Keyboardist. Eli gigs regularly in the SF Bay Area and New Orleans, and recieved his training through a Bachelor of Music degree at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley. Besides his involvement in The Astronauts, he plays piano for Cha Ching, (one of the hottest dance bands in the Bay Area) and for Eli Goldlink’s Flavor of the Month Club Band, (a personal project).
Jacob Savage
Community Service Programs Coordinator
Jacob Savage, founder of CONCRN, a 911-alternative emergency response organization that brings community compassionate response to mental health crises in San Francisco, is an professional Trumpeter. An integral member of various Bay Area bands, he brings his joy for youth to the schools, Jacob combines his passions for empathy and community building and music in Astronauts assemblies and community service programs. When he is not playing in assemblies, Jacob can be heard playing at many music clubs in SFBA, busking on the street, or dispatching emergency compassionate response volunteers.
Redwood City, CA
"The Astronauts bring an original approach to needed school and student support. The Astronauts and Hawes share the conviction that the Social Emotional needs of a child must be met before he/she can succeed in school, and indeed in life."
Al Rosell, Principal
Redwood City School District
San Jose, CA
"I would have students sent to my office for behavior referrals daily. After [Martín] worked with students, the referrals I received in third, fourth, and fifth grade reduced on average to once a week. Suspensions were also dramatically reduced from 11 in the prior year, to 7 during the year he worked at our school. I am extremely grateful for the tools he has taught our students because they are now able to use this free tool to calm themselves when needed." -
Principal
San Jose, CA
Palo Alto, CA
"Mr. Blank has impressed me not only through his passion for teaching students and teachers to manage their emotions and stress levels, but to improve their lives through important socio-emotional skills acquisition."
Dr. Fred Luskin, Professor of Psychology
Stanford University
Redwood City, CA
"Mr. Blank has inspired a passion for learning, and most importantly, has helped students mature by teaching them important life skills like managing their stress and emotions."
Signed by 29 parents from Redwood City School District
Redwood City, CA
"Should all classrooms implement Astronauts' lessons every single day, the school would benefit greatly, and by extension, our community would benefit as well"
Teacher - Connect Community Charter School, Redwood City
Chico, CA
"Engaging. Fun. Not boring in any way. Relevant. And helped us rev up for the new school year ahead."
Teacher - Manzanita Elementary School (Astronauts PD Participant)
Now Is the Time
Times are changing. Get ahead of the curve by implementing "soft skills" training into your school's top priorities.
World Economic Forum
Jack Ma, Alibaba
The time has come, Ma says, for us to embrace 21st century skills like creativity, art, music, teamwork, and caring for each other.
"Soft skills" are not so soft anymore.
“To succeed in today’s workplace, young people need more than basic reading and math skills. They need substantial content knowledge and information technology skills; advanced thinking skills; flexibility to adapt to change; and interpersonal skills to succeed in multicultural, cross functional teams.”
Our Curriculum
The Astronauts K-12 curriculum is aligned with CASEL's (Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning) 5 core competencies, and includes music education, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, social emotional skill development, and role-playing as its pedagogical delivery format. Its implementation can be customized to fit the needs of the multitude of communities it exists to serve.
Current & Past Partners & Clients
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Donor Circle for the Arts
CONCRN.org
EQ Schools
YCS - Youth Community Service
Stanford BeWell Program
Sequoia Health Care District
Summit Public Schools
Metuchen Schools
Highland Park Schools
Union Township Schools
Locations
Astronauts SEL operates in San Franscisco Bay Area and Princeton, New Jersey.
We are available for in-person and remote engagements throughout the US and internationally.
Email us at martin@astronautssel.com
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation HERE
Or simply call us at (510) 338-2650
About Us
Astronauts SEL is a project of
School Wellbeing Solutions, LLC, an organization that supports schools and districts to improve wellbeing of individuals and retention of teachers and staff.
Or schedule a free 30-minute consultation --> HERE.
We'd love to hear from you!
Contact
510-338-2650
martin@astronautssel.com
© 2021
San Francisco, California & Princeton, New Jersey, USA