DeSoto ISD launches Zen Dens for student, staff well-being

DeSoto—DeSoto Independent School District is leading the way in prioritizing emotional wellness and healing-centered learning through a transformative partnership with 2 Inspire Peace Inc. As part of this district-wide initiative, all DeSoto ISD campuses are being equipped with Zen Dens—innovative wellness spaces designed to support emotional regulation, reflection, and resilience among both students and staff.

This collaboration is part of DeSoto ISD’s broader commitment to fostering a culture of care and well-being across its schools. With support from 2 Inspire Peace, a trusted vendor for the Texas Center for Student Supports, the district is creating safe, nurturing environments that promote emotional intelligence, self-advocacy and community connection.

Through this partnership, DeSoto ISD is not only enhancing the educational experience but also modeling what it means to invest in the whole child: mind, body and spirit.

Zen Dens are not simply quiet rooms; they are immersive, purpose-driven environments that honor the human need for stillness, reflection and individualized emotional support. These spaces are thoughtfully curated using warm hues and earthy tones to evoke comfort, safety and a sense of belonging. They are designed to empower students and staff to practice self-awareness and develop lifelong emotional regulation strategies.

“Social-emotional safety is a key predictor of student achievement,” said Dr. Gene Morrow, executive director of Student Support Services for DeSoto ISD. “When students feel seen, heard, and supported, they are far more likely to engage deeply in learning, take healthy risks, and overcome academic challenges. Zen Dens are an innovative way to reinforce that safety in a tangible and nurturing way.”

Research and classroom experience show that children of color are disproportionately disciplined in schools, often a reflection of unaddressed emotional needs and limited access to mental, emotional, and behavioral health resources. Even in a more homogenous school community like DeSoto ISD, which is roughly 70 percent African American and 20 percent Hispanic/Latin American, teachers and leaders have observed a need to dig down into the makeup and development of the whole child, centering on creating foundations for mental and emotional health and wellness, emotional coping skills, self-regulation and conflict regulation skills. 

When children, of any race, are given consistent exposure to social-emotional tools and supportive environments, they experience healthier interactions, display stronger engagement in school, and are less likely to act out. These systems offer students practical coping mechanisms to navigate stress, frustration, and anxiety—factors that are increasingly prevalent in this generation of school-aged children.

The initiative acknowledges that many individuals, especially those who may have once felt unseen or disempowered, benefit from spaces that center their emotional needs and encourage healing and self-regulation. By prioritizing emotional balance, the Zen Dens also contribute to a healthier, more inclusive and supportive school culture.

Metric Manning, also of the DeSoto ISD Student Support Services team, emphasized the strategic role Zen Dens play in a larger system of support:

“Zen Dens are just one of several initiatives we are implementing this upcoming academic year to holistically support students socially, emotionally and behaviorally. These spaces allow students to process emotions, whether they're navigating peer conflict, working through academic frustrations, or needing time to reflect, and return to the classroom better equipped to engage, learn and succeed,” Manning said.

DeSoto ISD is also integrating multiple frameworks to build resilience and emotional intelligence across campuses, including:

Restorative Discipline Practices (RDP): a set of principles and techniques focused on building relationships, fostering community, and repairing harm through inclusive dialogue and mutual understanding among students and their peers

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): a framework that provides varying levels of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to meet the diverse needs of all students through data-driven decision-making and targeted interventions.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): a proactive, school-wide framework that promotes positive behavior, improves school climate, and enhances student outcomes through consistent expectations, reinforcement and data-informed strategies.

Student Support Teams: collaborative groups of educators and specialists who identify, develop, and implement targeted strategies to support students exhibiting behavioral challenges, aiming to improve outcomes through data-driven problem-solving and individualized interventions.

These proactive models are designed to intervene early, address concerns before they escalate, and guide students toward long-term, positive outcomes.

“Our goal is to create a districtwide culture that prioritizes wellness and proactively meets student needs,” Superintendent Dr. Usamah Rodgers said. “By implementing strategies like Zen Dens and aligning them with MTSS, PBIS, and Student Support Teams, we are taking meaningful steps to address mental and emotional health, ensuring students remain on a strong trajectory toward success, both academically and personally.”

As the 2025–2026 school year approaches, DeSoto ISD is positioning itself as a leader in whole-child education, with Zen Dens serving as a visible, healing symbol of the district’s deep commitment to student and staff well-being.

SOURCE DeSoto Independent School District