Rooted in Us: Black SEL at The Ferguson School

Abstract

The Ferguson School (TFS) is a Black-led microschool serving K–5 students in Decatur, Georgia, with a mission to grow the hearts, minds, and faith of young learners using culturally responsive practices. This exploratory inquiry examined how TFS's practices align with the Black Social-Emotional Learning (Black SEL) framework and identified opportunities for deeper racial identity development. Using semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and artifact analysis, the research team investigated how SEL is understood, enacted, and supported across the school and broader community. Findings revealed the presence of all six Black SEL pillars at TFS while also uncovering opportunities for Black Self-Concept to be more racially explicit and student-driven.