EP 163 Teaching Citizenship and Responsibility with Richard Trotta

"We focus so much on academics that we're losing sight of the real problem, and we keep trying to put these students that might be round pegs into square holes." - Richard Trotta This week on The Dash, Richard Trotta, the director of the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility, an after-school program that focuses on leadership skills, talks to me about the CCSR, the merits of project-based learning, and how he was able to set up this program. Richard has been an educator for over 40 years and has great insight into what SEL development means not only for students, but also their communities. For more information about the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility, go to www.medfordccsr.org 01:25 - What is the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility? 04:15 - Project-based learning develops leadership and a sense of community in students 08:35 - Why spend most of your career in one school district? 09:50 - The merits of programs like these that develop SEL skills 13:05 - The key components and challenges of setting up the Center 16:45 - Richard's advice on how and why to set up a similar program in your district. 18:45 - The work the Center does is rewarding not only for the students, but for everyone involved