Posted July 21, 2026 in Life at Lawrence
Making and baking cupcakes with Head of Upper School Shanika Lovelace during a Real World Ready class.
It’s one thing to learn the rules of social interaction from a lecture; it’s another thing to put them into practice. Real-world confidence requires hands-on experience, and that’s exactly what Social Emotional Learning Specialist Jeff Starner and Upper School Counselor Lea French set out to create when they reimagined how social skills are taught at Lawrence Upper School.
Since 2014, the school has utilized PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills), an evidence-based curriculum created by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson to help students learn the mechanics of making friends, entering conversations, and navigating conflict. But Starner and French noticed a gap between learning those concepts in a classroom and applying them in real life.
"Students could tell you the skills because it was lecture-based," Starner explains. "They could tell you how to approach someone or what qualities to look for in a friend. But actually getting out there and putting themselves out there wasn’t always happening."
Upper School Social Emotional Learning Specialist Jeff Starner
That realization led to the creation of Real World Ready—a hands-on course designed to build on those social foundations through practical, everyday life skills.
Meeting four days a week, Monday through Thursday, the course blends social growth with practical tasks. Instead of simply discussing teamwork, students put it into practice through hands-on group projects that range from baking to basic vehicle maintenance.
Student buy-in is high, largely because the kids help shape the curriculum themselves.
One of the most impactful units is event planning. Rather than just learning how to host, each student plans and hosts a real get-together in the classroom. They handle every detail: selecting snacks, picking board games, sending text invitations, welcoming guests at the door, and making sure everyone feels included.
"In past years, I’d ask kids over the summer if they had hosted any friends, and many hadn’t," Starner notes. "Now, we bring it directly into the classroom. It normalizes hosting high school peers and gives them the confidence to do it on their own."
To give students a grounded look at life after high school, the course regularly welcomes guest speakers from around the school community:
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Domenic Iorillo, Co-Director of College and Career Planning, guided students through higher-education searches based on their career interests.
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Amy Sheeler, Director of Student Advocacy & Support Services, presented on renting versus buying, drawing from her personal experience leasing properties to college students to share valuable real-world insights.
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Sally Garza, Upper School Director of Educational Technology, shared budgeting strategies and spreadsheet templates for purchasing a first car.
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Shanika Lovelace, Head of Upper School, led interactive baking sessions in the school kitchen.
These visits teach vital skills while allowing students to see their school leaders in a new light.
"It’s been cool for the kids to see a different side of the adults they are around every day," French says.
Stepping out of one’s comfort zone is a central theme. During one session, Upper School Academic Dean Rama Janamanchi brought mystery brown bags containing safe but unfamiliar items like spiky brushes and open Jell-O containers. Students reached in blind to guess the objects, sparking a candid conversation about fear, vulnerability, and trying new things.
"Hearing an adult everyone looks up to talk openly about things that make her nervous gave the kids courage," says Starner. "It built incredible community connection."
That same supportive approach carries over to vehicle maintenance. When the class headed outside to check oil levels and test tire pressure, students were encouraged but never forced to get involved.
"We don’t push anyone into uncomfortable situations," French emphasizes. "Even if a student just observed their peers checking the oil, they were still exposed to car maintenance. Every student steps away educated and prepared."
Currently open to ninth through 12th graders by teacher recommendation, the year-long cohort model creates a tight-knit environment where students feel safe to take risks. Starner’s ultimate goal is for every Lawrence Upper School student to take Real World Ready at least once before graduation.
"Many students come to school struggling in different areas, but these are skills they will use for the rest of their lives," Starner says. "When kids feel safe taking risks in a supportive environment, you see their confidence grow exponentially."