Cultivating equity through the Mediator Mentors Program: a SWOT analysis of educator perceptions of Transformative SEL in urban elementary schools

This qualitative survey-based study explored educator perceptions of the Mediator Mentors Program’s impact on Transformative Social-Emotional Learning (T-SEL) and racial equity in urban elementary schools. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey and SWOT analysis, findings revealed a positive overall perceived impact, with particular strength in self-awareness and high consensus on advancing racial equity. Qualitative insights highlighted mentor role-modeling strengths while identifying a learning-doing gap linked to challenges in contact frequency. While educators perceived positive shifts in collaborative communication, findings suggest that fostering complex, independent decision-making requires more frequent, sustained relational engagement. This research offers preliminary implementation considerations for school–university partnerships using peer mediation to cultivate equity, emphasizing delivery models that prioritize consistent schedules without disrupting core classroom instruction.