Windsor Public Schools Partners With Finland’s Education Program to Bring More Happiness, Play and Strengths-Based Learning to Classrooms
WINDSOR, Conn., June 30, 2026 - What if academic achievement and happiness were not competing priorities in education, but went hand in hand?
That idea is shaping a new collaboration between Windsor Public Schools in Connecticut and See the Good!, a Finnish education program that brings character strengths, positive psychology, and social-emotional learning into everyday school life.
The partnership will bring See the Good! to all four of Windsor’s elementary schools, providing 75 digital platform licenses for K-5 educators and professional development to support strengths-based teaching, student well-being, and positive school culture.
The collaboration builds on Windsor's broader vision of education: one that values not only academic achievement but also children's happiness, emotional well-being, relationships and personal development.
Inspired by Finnish Education, Designed for Windsor
The partnership follows an educational visit to Finland in April 2026 by Windsor Superintendent Dr. Noha Abdel-Hady, who explored how Finnish schools approach learning, well-being, and the development of the whole child.
During the visit, supported by See the Good!, Dr. Abdel-Hady observed Finnish educational practices emphasizing playful learning, outdoor experiences, meaningful relationships, and the recognition of children's individual strengths.
Tina Sedin, Deputy Director of Swedish-Language Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) for the City of Helsinki, Finland, shares insights into everyday teaching and learning practices in Finnish early childhood education centers.
These experiences also helped inform Windsor's Early Learning Model (WELM), a district-developed approach for kindergarten through second grade that combines strong foundations in literacy and mathematics with play, outdoor exploration, life skills, and social-emotional development.
Rather than replicating the Finnish education system, Windsor is adapting ideas to meet the needs of its own students, teachers, and community.
The See the Good! partnership complements that vision by giving educators practical resources to make strengths-based learning part of everyday classroom experiences.
A Holistic Approach to Happier Classrooms and Teacher Well-Being
At the heart of See the Good! is the belief that happiness and learning go hand in hand. Its holistic approach supports children's academic, social, emotional, and physical development through playful learning, positive relationships, outdoor experiences, and the recognition of individual strengths.
Rather than following a rigid curriculum, See the Good! provides a flexible educational toolbox filled with ready-to-use activities, materials and practical ideas. Teachers can select and adapt resources to their students' needs, classroom challenges and teaching styles, making well-being a natural part of everyday learning.
The approach also helps educators address challenging behavior by developing children's self-regulation, empathy and cooperation instead of focusing solely on negative behavior. Combined with professional development and coaching, See the Good! aims to reduce classroom stress, ease teachers' workloads, and address factors contributing to burnout.
The goal is simple: happier children, supported teachers, and a more positive school culture where everyone can thrive.
A Shared Vision for Happier Schools
The Windsor partnership reflects a growing interest in educational approaches that bring together academic learning, emotional well-being, and character development.
For Windsor Public Schools, the collaboration provides an opportunity to explore how Finnish-inspired practices can strengthen its existing commitment to whole-child education.
For See the Good!, it represents another step in bringing research-informed strengths-based education to American classrooms.
As Windsor prepares for the 2026–27 school year, the two organizations share a straightforward ambition: to help create schools where children feel seen, teachers feel supported, and happiness and learning belong together.
About See the Good!
See the Good! is built on years of academic research from Finnish education experts. We offer a strength-based program that empowers teachers to create positive, inclusive, and reflective lessons for K-12 students. Our vision is to unlock the full potential within every student, helping them shine and flourish through all stages of life, while prioritizing teacher well-being. See the Good! partners with schools in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and across the U.S., helping schools cultivate communities where everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered.
Learn more at www.seethegood.app.
Media Contact
Louis Bui
VP of Operations, See the Good!
louis@seethegood.app
www.seethegood.app
