Gerta Bardhoshi, College of Education professor in Rehabilitation and Counselor Education, and Jeremy Swanston, professor in the School of Art and Art History, received a $10,000 Community Impact Grant from the University of Iowa Provost's Office of Outreach and Engagement for their proposal, "Social Behavioral Stories in the Classroom."

Bardhoshi and Swanston's interdisciplinary project partners with local high-poverty schools to design, develop, and implement a custom classroom guidance curriculum and accompanying app to reduce disruptive behaviors and promote pro-social skills in kindergarten students. The work builds on Bardhoshi's experience developing and delivering specialized curricula to elementary schools, as well as Swanston's experience in developing visually innovative solutions through technology.

The curriculum they develop will aim to incorporate traditional didactic components, evidence-based intervention strategies already in use at the elementary schools, as well as creative, activity-based learning through a custom educational app and digital books. Additionally, this project will provide clinical training opportunities for two doctoral counseling students who will deliver classroom guidance services.