A brand new social health class could be making its way to Utah schools. The class was developed by a teacher at Herriman High School, who feels that social and relationship skills are just as important as math or English.
"How cool would it be if kids from Kindergarten all the way to 12th grade were just learning how to make friends, connect with their families, connect with their teachers and coaches,” said David Kozlowski, the teacher who developed the curriculum.
Kozlowski is a teacher and a licensed therapist that specializes in teens and suicide prevention. He developed the curriculum called Social Health, and it’s being used in the first of it's kind class called Level-Up.
“(We teach about) learning how to take rejection, and make friends, and connect with people,” he said.
For now, the class is for sophomores, taken during the quarter they aren’t in driver’s ed. The course teaches specific social tools.
The class was started during the 2020-2021 school year, and is now being expanded. Past students said they learned how to walk away from unhealthy relationships, and learned they have the power to help or to hurt others.
"You don't know the impact on other kids' lives,” said junior Grant Taylor.
Taylor said he learned that just by saying “hello” or shaking someone’s hand, he could be making their day.
Teachers said they saw Taylor develop a friendship with a newer, quieter student, who greatly valued the connection. That's something they’ve seen the class bring out of multiple students.
“That's the thing that makes me the most happy, is not seeing kids alone,” said Kozlowski.
Another junior, Cecilia Walker, said the class was helpful even for students considered social butterflies. She said it teaches everyone empathy.
"I've learned how to maybe work things out with my parents a little better or to not be so contentious with my siblings,” said Walker.
The course teaches students skills at the foundational level that will help them be happier and more employable. It also empowers students to leave labels behind – something hard for many high schoolers.
"That's the thing. You have to identify as something, and they forget that we are all just people, flawed,” said Cindy Watkins, a counselor at the school who also teaches the level-up class.
She said it's important for students to learn how to manage relationships with their friends, families, and employers early on.
“Without the skills, those carry into adulthood and can be very disruptive,” said Watkins.
Improved social skills also improves mental health. Level up isn't a therapy group, or something students have to seek out for help, they said.
"That's the beauty of it. It's not a mental health class,” said assistant principal Julie Scherzinger.
Scherzinger was brought into the school a few years ago, after a string of student suicides. Her background as a counselor and administrator led her to seek out proactive approaches to helping students.
"Since the introduction of social media to our devices, we have had a huge increase in students cutting themselves, and suicide, and depression and anxiety. We have to do something, as a society,” she said.
The course also focuses on socializing online – how students can be impacted, and how they can impact others.
"When you're considering that most of the influence they're getting is from social media, what is my responsibility? What do I cut out that maybe is either positive or negative, and to own that,” said Scherzinger
She said they are already seeing the effects from the first year’s classes.
"Our Safe Utah tips, for suicide ideation, went down dramatically," Scherzinger said.
In a survey of students who took the course, 92% said it was something all students should take.
That was the next step for Kozlowski. He said the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation introduced him to lawmakers, and this January he will submit a bill to start spreading the program. He hoped to get funding to teach the curriculum in more schools. Starting with another 10, to gather research and statistics to hopefully expand the curriculum statewide K-12.
Kozlowski has also created videos that teach teachers and administrators these skills. The on-demand “Connection Currency” videos teach how to build and improve relationships with students and parents.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or the UNI CrisisLine at 801-587-3000.
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New social health class at Herriman High may expand to schools across Utah - KJZZ
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