About Us
Our training program for administrators, teachers, counselors and parent coordinators with less than 5 years of experience focuses on:
- school-based group dynamics
- classroom leadership
- emotional education and literacy
- prevention and intervention services
- integration of academic, social and emotional development in the classroom.
GroupWORKS is a non-profit educational organization devoted to increase the social and emotional literacy of administrators, teachers, counselors, parents and students through research and training about the impact of group dynamics throughout the school community on areas such as:
- learning
- over-achievement and under-achievement
- destructive behavior and school violence
- retention of students, teachers, support staff, and administrators
In addition to working with New York City and New Jersey public schools, GroupWORKS partners with institutions of higher learning to develop graduate courses on group dynamics and group leadership for teachers, counselors, psychologists, administrators, and social workers. We believe that professional education for administrators, teachers, counselors and parent coordinators must include preparation for their role as group leader in the classroom, counseling group and school community.
School life takes place in groups, and the dynamics in these groups significantly effect education and the collaborative relationships central to learning. Unattended to and ignored, group dynamics can contribute to the violence and trauma that occur in school settings, leading to the high drop-out rate of educators and students alike.
What Educators and Students Say About Us
“The work of my office, supervising the work of 190 schools, including guidance, substance abuse prevention/intervention services, attendance improvement and dropout prevention, student health, and school safety issues, would not have been nearly as effective without the work of GroupWORKS and their constant support, intervention, and wonderful availability.”
Director, New York City Department of Education, Regional Office of Youth Development.
“In September of 2006 I joined a group by the name of “The Group for Success”. At the beginning I thought I was just wasting my time. In the group there was me, 7 other students, my guidance counselor and a facilitator from GroupWORKS. In group we shared experiences, problems in school and talked about the future. The group led me to see that I have the potential and intelligence to become who ever I want and do what ever I want. This experience also helped me mature and evolve into an independent and focused young man. I also learned that school is a step in life that leads you to the world of success.”
From the College Application of a Potential High School Dropout from a School Under Regents Review.
“The Co-Leadership Project and the Educators’ First Project have increased the resiliency of hundreds of children and adults in the lower Manhattan schools. Counselors in our district who have participated in the Educators’ First Project have honed their group leadership skills and as resilience coaches have increased the number of students they serve through leading groups in their schools. We are grateful for the superior assistance GroupWORKS has provided and sincerely hope to have their continued work at our school.”
Principal, Lower Manhattan Elementary School.
“I would never have made it through my first year-GroupWORKS helped me understand and respond effectively to the group dynamics in my classroom. I have started year two with greater confidence.”