Social-Emotional Learning with Gratitude
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We envision a world where all schools are safe, equitable, and inclusive and where all students have the social, emotional, and academic skills to thrive.
GiveThx was developed in 2017 for and with students in low-income, high-trauma communities. At the time, GiveThx founder, Mike Fauteux was a high school math classroom teacher in California. Looking to support students who were significantly behind and struggling to catch up, he asked students three key questions: What do you need to feel safe? What do you need to feel like you belong? What do you need to feel like you can succeed? From their answers, the GiveThx program was born.
The program was designed to center equity and inclusion. While GiveThx benefits all students, it aims to make those who feel most marginalized--most unseen and unsafe--feel included, worthy, and valued. Unlike social media platforms, where everyone can see who is being included, excluded, and bullied on the digital playground, GiveThx’s notes hinge on private and positive peer-to-peer engagement. The one-on-one messages allow students to build community through confidential notes of appreciation.
After engaging in early GiveThx practices, Mike’s students reported feeling happier, developing stronger relationships with their peers and teachers, and building a deeper sense of self. It became clear that strengthening social emotional skills through gratitude improved student belonging and school culture. This led, in turn, to better academic outcomes and increased engagement in school.
In 2018, Mike partnered with co-founders Amara Humphry and Javier Perez to bring these early prototypes to life through the GiveThx app. They are committed to creating easy, flexible, and equitable ways to integrate social emotional skill-building into schools through gratitude and technology.
Executive Director, Co-founder
“Feeling seen and appreciated is essential for learning and growth. And I love a good thank you note.”
Mike is a co-founder of GiveThx. His career has been committed to increasing equity in education. He has taught math, been an administrator, and served as an innovation leader in middle and high schools. Mike co-created several edtech innovations designed to create more equitable learning. He believes that effective tools must be created with, by, and for students and educators.
Product Director, Co-founder
"I do my best work when I feel like I belong. Every student deserves that opportunity."
Amara is a co-founder of GiveThx. She is a social entrepreneur with strong education and technology leadership expertise. She has a unique combination of embedded work with K-12 schools and leadership of global design and engineering teams. Amara has co-founded two education non-profits and is committed to designing technology for students and teachers who need it the most.
Engineering Director, Co-founder
"Social emotional learning is key for all us to lead healthier, happier lives."
Javier is a co-founder of GiveThix. He is a technical manager and software architect with broad experience managing teams and implementing enterprise solutions. He is the founding partner of Edify, a software company with 20 years of experience building K-12 and higher-ed products for companies like MacMillan and Kaplan. He dedicates his tech expertise to creating social impact.
Advisor & Board Member
“Students learn best when they are meaningfully connected to other students & adults.”
Dr. Waters has worked in education for more than 45 years, specializing in schools that accelerate the learning of students of poverty and color, including the targeted use of technology. Prior to retiring in 2019, she was the Superintendent of Leadership Public Schools and former Associate Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District.
Business Manager
“Feeling valued, safe, and included in any community is important, but even more so in schools.”
Erika Somogyi has worked in the field of education for over 15 years as a teacher, administrator, and EdTech leader. Trained in ESL and Montessori pedagogy, Erika is passionate about creating school cultures emphasizing student well-being. She has presented at both national and international conferences on topics related to educational leadership. She firmly believes that efficacious learning is deeply linked to student confidence and the ability to successfully navigate social emotional skills.
Advisor & Researcher
The beauty of practicing gratitude is that it promotes wellbeing to benefit an entire community."
Dr. Bono is an Associate Professor of Psychology at California State University Dominguez Hills and core gratitude researcher at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Dr. Bono is co-author of Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character (2015) and director of the Youth Gratitude Project – a research program that promotes student success and wellness in primary and secondary schools.
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