Leading With Heart: New Leadership in the SEW Program
March is Women’s History Month—a time to recognize the women who lead, inspire, and create meaningful change in their communities. Across education and mental health, women are helping shape the systems and support networks that young people rely on every day. At CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, leaders like Cate Perry are continuing that legacy by guiding programs that help students build resilience, confidence, and connection.
Recently stepping into her role as the new Program Manager of the Social Emotional Well-being (SEW) program, Cate brings both experience and heart to the next chapter of this work.
A Journey That Started With Students
Cate’s path to leadership began on the front lines—working directly with young people who needed support the most.
Before joining CHADS, Cate worked as a special education teacher. During that time, she noticed something that deeply concerned her.
Students were expected to learn math, reading, and writing while often struggling with emotional challenges that weren’t being addressed.
“There was a lack of resources and focus on students’ social-emotional well-being,” Cate recalls.
When she joined CHADS in 2021 as a SEW mentor, she found the opportunity to change that. In this role, Cate worked directly with students—helping them develop social-emotional learning skills while also serving as a trusted adult they could rely on.
Those relationships quickly showed her just how powerful this work could be.
“I got to help students learn these skills while also being someone they could trust,” Cate says. “Through my role directly working with students, I saw the success of this program and the extraordinary impact this work has on young lives.”
Now, as the new SEW Program Manager, those early experiences remain at the center of how she leads.
“When things get hard or stressful, I think back to those moments when a student would say, ‘I have never thought about it like this before,’ or ‘I am so glad that you are my mentor.’ Those moments remind me that the work we are doing is essential and lifesaving.”
Leading With Heart
One of the most important parts of Cate’s leadership philosophy is relationships.
Over the past four years, she has worked alongside SEW mentors, SEL Coaches, and Program Coordinators, building strong connections with the team that delivers this work in schools every day.
“I am lucky to have an amazing team,” she says. “I have built strong relationships with them over the years, and I am grateful to call many of them friends.”
As the program continues to grow, Cate wants to ensure that the culture of trust and support remains strong.
“I often talk about the importance of students having someone who believes in them,” she explains. “But it’s also important for my team to feel that from me.”
Creating that sense of trust helps build a strong foundation for collaboration, accountability, and growth.
“When difficult conversations come up, that foundation matters,” Cate says. “I want everyone on the team to understand why the program is structured the way it is and know that everything we do is for the betterment of the program and our mission of saving young lives.”
Looking Toward the Future
As Cate steps into this new leadership role, she is energized by the opportunity to continue strengthening and expanding the SEW program.
Having served as a part-time mentor, full-time coordinator, and now program manager, she brings a unique perspective to the role.
“I’ve seen what is working in the SEW program and what needs refinement,” she says. “I’m excited to use my experience to enhance our practices.”
One area she is especially passionate about growing is the SEL Coach Program.
These coaches work directly inside schools five days a week, providing mentoring services while also helping schools implement additional social-emotional learning support for students.
“Our coaches are able to provide consistent services and meet schools’ needs in real time,” Cate explains. “That presence can make a huge difference.”
Over the next two to three years, Cate hopes to continue strengthening the SEW team while refining program practices so the focus can remain where it belongs: on students.
“My goal is to keep building a strong team grounded in trust and mission-centered work,” she says.
Why Belonging Matters
At the heart of the SEW program is a simple but powerful idea: every student deserves to feel like they belong.
“Belonging is essential to a child’s mental well-being,” Cate says.
Throughout her time working with students, she has seen how deeply young people can struggle when they feel disconnected from trusted adults or their communities.
“I’ve worked with several students who felt like they didn’t have a trusted adult in their life,” she explains. “That can make them feel lost and hopeless when mental health struggles arise.”
But when students feel supported and valued, everything changes.
“When a child has a sense of belonging, they know they are safe and supported,” Cate says. “They know they have people they can turn to for help.”
Students who feel connected are more likely to succeed academically and socially. They’re also more willing to take on challenges and show resilience when life gets difficult.
“They are more likely to succeed not just in school, but in life after school,” she adds.
A Message to the Community
As Cate begins this new chapter as SEW Program Manager, she wants families, students, and supporters to know just how important this work is.
“I have seen firsthand what it means for students to have a trusted adult in their lives and develop social-emotional learning skills,” she says.
Programs like SEW help students build lifelong skills—learning how to understand and manage emotions, empathize with others, resolve conflict, and make responsible choices.
“By supporting this program, you are investing in a future of individuals who can navigate their emotions in healthy ways and support the people around them,” Cate says.
And with continued support, the impact can keep growing.
“Together, we can continue reaching more students and building stronger communities.”
During Women’s History Month, leaders like Cate remind us that meaningful change often starts with one simple action: showing up, believing in others, and leading with heart. To learn more about how to get our SEW program in your schools, please get in touch with Cate at cate@chadscoalition.org.