CASE STUDY
Lower Yukon School District
Rooted in Culture, Rising Together: Lower Yukon School District’s SEL Journey with Kikori
Location: Western Alaska
Grade Levels: PreK–12
Focus: Implementing culturally responsive SEL across rural, predominantly Alaska Native communities.
Lower Yukon School District, Western Alaska
Rooted in Culture, Rising Together
In the remote villages of Western Alaska, where rivers freeze and thaw with the seasons and communities are knit tightly by heritage, something extraordinary is happening. Educators across the Lower Yukon School District (LYSD) are leading a quiet revolution — one rooted in connection, culture, and courage.
Through a district-wide partnership with Kikori, LYSD has brought social-emotional learning (SEL) to life in a way that honors Yupik traditions, uplifts student voices, and fosters resilience. This is the story of how a rural district turned SEL into a pathway for healing, growth, and community revival — one popcorn share, trust walk, and heartfelt reflection at a time.
Culturally Rooted SEL — Honoring Tradition While Growing New Skills
"We’re working in schools where many students are Alaska Native, and we want SEL to reflect the strengths of the community.”
Lisa Vrvilo
Distance Learning & Logistics Director
Embedding community-
specific values
In LYSD, SEL isn’t something added on. It’s woven in.
Kikori’s flexibility allowed schools to embed community-specific values into SEL activities. Educators shaped experiences that celebrated identity, taught emotional regulation, and made space for joy.
“We’re not just teaching emotions — we’re helping kids learn how to care for one another in a way that makes sense in their community.” — Manju Warrier, Kikori Implementation Partner
In Action — Russian Mission School:
“Our students have experienced so much loss. SEL gives them a way to name what they’re feeling — and not feel alone.”— Nastasia, educator at Russian Mission
At Russian Mission, SEL became a tool for trauma healing. Teachers introduced morning greetings in Yupik and created “quiet spaces” for mindfulness.
Empowering Students
From Quiet to Confident, From Isolated to Included
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Across the district, educators report a shared shift: students are speaking up more. Sharing more. Leading more.
“One of my quietest students became our morning meeting leader. He greets every classmate with a fist bump and a smile. I’ve never seen him like that before.” — Minard Abenojar, Teacher at Pilot Station School
Through morning meetings, popcorn sharing, and collaborative play, students are learning to express emotions, listen actively, and build trust.
“They ask for SEL now. They love it. They even remind me if we miss it.” — Roxane Manguera, SEL Coach
Minard began with simple routines: greeting circles, “I feel” sentence stems, and gratitude shares. Over time, students took ownership. One girl who struggled with speaking now leads daily affirmations.
“Before Kikori, these moments didn’t happen. Now they’re the best part of our day.”
— Minard Abenojar
Teacher Support & Collaboration — The Key to Sustainable SEL
In a district where resources are stretched and teacher turnover is high, the success of SEL hinges on ease of use, collaboration, and shared purpose. Teachers used Kikori's ready-made morning meeting flows, tied to CASEL standards and Responsive Classroom practices. But what made it stick was the district-level leadership that celebrated wins and created time for team learning.
“The lessons are plug-and-play. Even when I was a new teacher, I felt confident using them.” — Nastasia, Russian Mission
“It’s not just a toolkit. It’s the culture we’re building — together.” — Lisa Vrvilo
In Action — District-Wide Collaboration
Each month, teachers and coaches across LYSD met virtually to share what's working. One school shared a “cultural emotions wall,” another highlighted SEL in Yupik dance.
The sense of shared progress helped keep momentum high — even across miles of tundra.
Building Belonging & Resilience
Attendance, Engagement, and Whole-Child Growth
Kikori’s activities created safe rituals: affirmations, storytelling, mindfulness, and cooperative games. These routines reduced anxiety, increased engagement, and helped students bounce back from setbacks.
“I’ve seen students come in late just to make it to morning meeting. They don’t want to miss it.”
— Roxane Manguera
As SEL took root, so did signs of deeper belonging. Students started showing up — not just physically, but emotionally.
In Action — Pilot Station School
Teachers created “Gratitude Circles” where students shared one good thing each day. Over time, even students who struggled with behavior found pride in naming their wins.
“They’re learning to reframe — to see their own progress.”— Teacher at Pilot Station
Key Takeaways for
Other Districts:
Lessons from Lower Yukon School District’s Culturally Rooted SEL Journey
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Honor Cultural
Context:
Root SEL in Students’ Identities and Traditions
Lower Yukon proves that social-emotional learning can — and must — be culturally relevant. SEL thrives when it speaks the language of students’ lived experiences and honors community knowledge.
In schools like Russian Mission and Kotlik, educators weave Yupik traditions, storytelling, and seasonal practices into SEL lessons. Whether it’s identifying emotions using native language, or building belonging through cultural celebrations, SEL becomes more than a program — it becomes a way of reconnecting students with themselves and their heritage.
🔑 Tip for districts: Co-design SEL implementation with cultural liaisons and community elders. Build reflection and identity work that centers cultural strengths.
“Our students are not just learning self-awareness; they’re learning who they are in the context of their community and culture.”
— Lisa Vrvilo, Distance Learning & Logistics Director
— Lisa Vrvilo, Director of Secondary Education
Empower Students:
Create Space for Leadership, Voice, and Agency
Across Lower Yukon, students aren’t just participants — they’re leaders. SEL structures like morning meetings and popcorn sharing become stages for student voice. Even the quietest students are finding their confidence, and entire classes are becoming communities.
From peer-to-peer affirmation practices to student-led trust-building games, SEL empowers kids to be agents of change in their own classrooms.
🔑 Tip for districts: Build in predictable routines where student voice leads. Model vulnerability and leadership, then step back and let students rise.
“The students are leading the conversations — I don’t even have to prompt them. They want to share. They want to lead.”
— Minard Abenojar, Teacher, LYSD
— Lisa Vrvilo, Director of Secondary Education
Support Teachers:
Provide Easy-to-Use Tools and Celebrate Their Efforts
A culture of teacher celebration — from shout-outs during coaching to district-wide storytelling — fuels morale and momentum.
What makes this work sustainable? Teachers are supported every step of the way. LYSD educators repeatedly share that they feel relieved and energized by having ready-made, customizable resources from Kikori that save time and spark engagement.
🔑 Tip for districts: Remove friction. Give teachers tools they can pick up and use immediately, and make time to recognize the magic they’re creating in their classrooms.
“It’s all in one place — it’s streamlined and simple. That makes it something teachers can really stick with.”
— Roxane Manguera, SEL Coach, LYSD
— Lisa Vrvilo, Director of Secondary Education
Think Systemically:
Embed SEL in Coaching, Collaboration, and Community-Wide Practices
The success in Lower Yukon isn’t by chance — it’s systemic. SEL is part of a bigger framework: ongoing coaching, school-wide support, community partnership, and a shared district vision rooted in healing and hope.
By investing in district-wide professional learning, empowering SEL champions in every school, and linking efforts to long-term goals like attendance, trauma healing, and community building, LYSD creates lasting impact.
🔑 Tip for districts: SEL isn’t one more thing — it’s the thing that can unify priorities. Embed it into every level of your system — from classroom routines to district goals.
“We’re not just doing SEL in a silo. It’s embedded in how we think about our schools, our coaching, and our relationships.”
— Lisa Vrvilo, Distance Learning & Logistics Director
Conclusion: A Blueprint for Healing, Hope, and Rural Resilience
The story of the Lower Yukon School District (LYSD) is more than a case study — it’s a living, breathing model of what’s possible when social-emotional learning (SEL) is rooted in culture, community, and care.
Across the sweeping tundra of Western Alaska, where the Yukon River winds through 10 remote villages, something powerful is happening. Educators, families, and students are co-creating a future where SEL is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline. Where morning meetings become mirrors of identity. Where trust-building games spark laughter and connection. Where healing is woven into the school day.
“This work is powerful — because it belongs to us.”
— Lisa Vrvilo, Distance Learning & Logistics Director, LYSD
With Kikori’s support and local wisdom, LYSD is building classrooms where every child feels seen, every teacher feels supported, and every tradition finds space to grow. SEL here isn’t imposed — it’s indigenous. It doesn’t compete with cultural identity — it honors it.
Closing Reflection:
From the Yukon River to Classrooms Across the Nation: What LYSD Teaches Us About the Heart of SEL
This isn’t just about implementing SEL practices — it’s about transforming what school feels like.
In LYSD, SEL has become a movement:
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A movement that restores pride and purpose to teaching
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A movement that amplifies student voice
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A movement that connects elders’ wisdom to children’s wonder
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A movement that rebuilds trust in systems that have long failed rural and Indigenous communities
Every story from every village — from Hooper Bay to Kotlik — paints a picture of what’s possible when SEL is approached with humility, intention, and love.
💡 We’ve seen:
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A quiet 6th grader in Mountain Village rise to lead a morning message with confidence
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Students in Russian Mission brainstorming ways to improve their school climate
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A principal in Pilot Station witnessing their staff support each other emotionally in a new, authentic way
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A student in Alakanuk saying, “I feel more connected. Like we actually see each other now.”
These are not isolated wins — they are part of a systemic shift.
“It’s not just about SEL. It’s about bringing joy back into learning. And that joy is contagious.”
— Kikori Facilitator, LYSD Launch Training
Looking Ahead:
A Roadmap for What’s Possible
Next Steps
Include
LYSD’s SEL journey is just beginning — and it’s already inspiring other rural, Indigenous, and high-poverty districts across the country.
Embedding SEL even deeper into academic content
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Expanding student leadership across schools
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Strengthening intergenerational learning with elders and community members
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Continuing to use tools like Kikori to ensure SEL is structured, sustainable, and joyful
Because when SEL is designed with — not just for — the community, it becomes something bigger:
✨ A force for healing
✨ A foundation for equity
✨ A spark for joy
The Question isn't "can SEL work here?" - it's:
“What would it look like to build an SEL ecosystem that reflects the soul of our community?”
Lower Yukon has shown us the answer.
Now it’s your turn.
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Case Studies
At Riverside Elementary in Jackson, MN, a powerful transformation is underway. Led by Principal Kim Meyer and a dedicated team, the school is becoming a place where every child feels seen, heard, and supported.
With three years of collaboration between Tuftonboro School and Kikori, Bridges Day has grown from a transition event to a transformational experience. Next year’s focus? Keep what works — and turn up the connection.
Read the study
Through a district-wide partnership with Kikori, LYSD has brought social-emotional learning (SEL) to life in a way that honors Yupik traditions, uplifts student voices, and fosters resilience. This is the story of how a rural district turned SEL into a pathway for healing, growth, and community revival.
At Griffin Memorial, “students thrive when they feel connected, supported, and known”. With a commitment to the Responsive Classroom approach, Griffin educators set out to create classrooms where students don’t just learn academic skills, but also build empathy, resilience, and community.
