School – a space for support and development: Silvia Stancheva from Amalipe Center shared innovations and working practices at the forum in Shumen
“Trayko Simeonov” Secondary School in Shumen has become a crossroads of educational innovations, hosting a large-scale three-day Regional Forum on the topic “Social and Emotional Learning for the Development of Competencies and Well-being of the Person”. The event, organized under the National Program “Innovations in Action” of the Ministry of Education and Science, brought together leading pedagogical specialists, institutions and organizations from Northeastern Bulgaria to chart the future of inclusive and emotionally intelligent education.
The forum was solemnly opened in the Assembly Hall of the “Trayko Simeonov” Secondary School. The significance of the event was confirmed by the presence of official guests, including: Regional Governor Georgi Zhekov; Prof. Hristo Hristov – Mayor of Shumen Municipality; Galina Sakarova – Director of the “Trayko Simeonov” Secondary School, host and driver of innovations in the school, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science Svetlana Mileva, the Regional Department of Education, the Rector of Shumen University “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski” Prof. Natalia Vitanova, and others. Among the key participants in the forum was Silvia Stancheva from the “Amalipe” Center, who presented inspiring practices for personal development and motivation of students.
The main panels of the three-day forum were aimed at building a safe, supportive and stimulating school environment. Participants debated topics such as developing emotional intelligence in students to cope with stress and conflicts; integrating socio-emotional skills into regular school hours; the key role of the school community and inclusive education in preventing school dropout.
The main focus of the first day of the forum was the inter-institutional partnership as a bridge to a safe school environment. One of the highlights of the program was the sharing of real and working models from practice. The presentation by Silvia Stancheva, representative of the Center for Interethnic Dialogue and Tolerance Amalipe, made a strong impression. She introduced the attendees to the successes and methodology of the “Mission Excellent: Inspired to Succeed” Program. In her speech, she emphasized how, through targeted support, building leadership skills and increasing motivation, young people from vulnerable communities can become active citizens and drivers of positive change in their schools.
The practices from “Mission Excellent” clearly showed how socio-emotional learning helps students not only improve their success, but also believe in their own abilities.
The regional forum in Shumen proved that the emotional well-being of students is just as important as their academic achievements. The partnership between schools like Traiko Simeonov Secondary School and organizations like Amalipe Center is a clear sign that change in Bulgarian education is happening here and now – through sharing experience, innovation and a lot of heart.
Author: Silviya Stancheva
Photo source: Traiko Simeonov Secondary School, Shumen
The network of schools “Mission Excelent: Inspired to Succeed” was built in connection with the “Every Student Will Be an Excelent” Program, funded by the Trust for a Social Alternative