Meet the Instructor:  Jesse Allen

 

Jesse Allen received his Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois. After returning to his hometown of Edwardsville, Jesse received his teaching certificate in special education and his Bachelor's degree in Education.

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He has taught students with severe behavior disorders and zero-tolerance offenders in Madison County for ten years. During this time he received his Master's degree in Education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He has also worked on statewide grants for social emotional learning.

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He resides in Edwardsville with his wife, Lisa, and his two daughters, Eloise and Zinnia.

 

Social School:  Filling a Need

I started Social School because I knew that I had something to offer. As a former educator, I saw what happened to young people who, for whatever reason, did not know how to manage their difficult emotions or create and maintain positive relationships. Social School is designed to give young people and adults a chance to gain valuable skills before they have to face failure and difficult consequences.  My goal is to give my clients the skills they need to find success academically, socially, and professionally.

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Now Social School has expanded into the high schools of Madison County. Our classes have been successfully integrated into the STEP programs of Bethalto, Collinsville, East Alton/Woodriver, Edwardsville, Granite City, Highland, and Triad high schools. Social School is working in cooperation with these schools to provide high quality social emotional learning to juniors and seniors in an effort to increase their employability. By teaching the business skill set of the curriculum, we are helping them to get and keep jobs. Our success rates have been phenomenal and the opportunities for these young people continue to grow.