InnerJoy: Building emotional intelligence

The American classroom is in crisis.

Studies show that student behavior problems in classrooms have spiked since the pandemic. These problems reduce instructional time, which in turn decreases academic gains not only for struggling students but often for the entire classroom.

EAB, formerly known as the Education Advisory Board, released the report, “2023 Voice of the Superintendent,” that highlights findings from a study of 198 school district superintendents across 37 states.

Eighty-one percent of the superintendents surveyed agreed that student behavioral concerns are worse now than before the pandemic, with 35 percent saying the situation has gotten “significantly worse.” Ninety-two percent indicated that student mental health crises are worse than they were in 2019, with 57 percent saying the situation has gotten “significantly worse.”

Despite widespread agreement on the severity of behavioral and mental health challenges, 79 percent of superintendents say they lack sufficient staffing to fully address the student mental health crisis, and 74 percent point to staffing shortfalls as the biggest impediment to progress on managing student behavioral issues.

In response, Milwaukee-based InnerJoy was created to help schools address this growing problem.

The company has created therapist-designed programming utilizing known Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) that follow best practices in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) that help students improve emotional intelligence and well-being.

PBIS programming is known to be effective. Studies indicate that when schools implement PBIS programs, student attendance and sense of belonging increase, while student suspensions and incidents requiring discipline decrease.

The emerging company is implementing a multi-channel approach to providing behavioral health tools for schools and other organizations dealing with the well-being of children. InnerJoy developed hands-on kits with materials to be used with children, as well as a technology platform to track and report student progress.

But InnerJoy knows that even the best programming is only as good as its implementation. Teacher shortages and shrinking budgets for public education mean that school staff often must wear many different hats to meet the needs of the student. For that reason, InnerJoy has developed a comprehensive curriculum to ensure the kits are used properly and consistently, allowing a greater variety of school staff to effectively deliver the programming.

Company co-founder Aicha Sharif has been passionate about education since her girlhood in Morocco. Her small village had one school, and it educated children through fifth grade. While many boys left the village to continue their education, most girls, including Sharif’s sister, ended their education when they completed elementary school.

“I believe education is a human right, but especially in countries like Morocco where it’s not always feasible. I wasn’t supposed to be in school, and I made it. It’s always very deep in my heart when I hear that certain schools, certain students, have a lesser chance of finishing school,” she said.

Determined to continue her education, Sharif persuaded her father to invest in her education and he eventually gave her the permission and funding to leave her home at 11 years old to pursue additional schooling.

“It was tough in middle school…and I almost dropped out. A lot of bullying happened during that phase. That is the inspiration for InnerJoy. I survived because I had an inner North Star; with InnerJoy, we truly build an inner North Star for the children…. What I believe helped me was my sense of agency- (the belief) that I’m in charge, and I’m not going to be the victim of anything. My inner North Star (reminded me) when things get really hard, to remember what your goals are in life,” she said.

Sharif’s desire to help children develop their own North Star and learn to regulate big emotions through InnerJoy is already taking shape in several Chicago public schools that receive federal funding to help students meet academic standards and close achievement gaps.

The company’s goal is to expand its offering while increasing its reach into Wisconsin schools. InnerJoy’s scaling plans include developing programming for students of all ages and launching at-home products designed to build on the developmental gains made through school-based programs.

To keep up with this early-stage company as it grows and impacts more communities, connect with InnerJoy here.