This dissertation examined the application of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in an alternative high school, emphasizing educators' perceptions and experiences. Amid issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigated how educators addressed challenges in implementing SEL into their curricula. The study was based on Fullan's theory of change and situated the interpretation and analysis of data for respondents to offer suggestions about the successful implementation of SEL. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, the researcher interviewed 18 high school teachers in West Tennessee to collect educators' perspectives regarding the advantages and disadvantages of adopting a systemic, school-wide SEL approach and their suggestions to improve this strategy. The results indicated that these teachers valued SEL for creating a supportive and empathetic educational environment. Critical themes such as creating warm teacher-student relationships and promoting a classroom culture based on mutual respect and understanding were deemed essential for successful SEL programs. However, challenges were also evident. Participants reported that they had difficulty instilling responsible decision-making and self-management skills among the students, which called for more robust and targeted SEL strategies. Practice-related suggestions include better training for educators in SEL; more sophisticated planning and allocation of resources regarding activities that promote social-emotional learning, and more emphasis on making the school a caring place where teachers are sensitive to students' needs. Limitations included the study's focus on a specific regional area and the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, both of which could impact the generalizability of the findings. Longitudinal studies and those conducted in diverse geographical regions could provide valuable insights into the evolving landscape of SEL implementation across various educational settings, offering hope for the ongoing development of effective SEL strategies. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]