New York City education leaders are promoting social-emotional learning strategies inside computer science classrooms, arguing that student resilience and emotion regulation are part of CS mastery. Nadia Taylor, a computer science implementation specialist in NYC schools’ office of student pathways, described how students experience frustration and embarrassment while programming, and how teachers can respond with SEL supports. The approach includes digital mood meters that let students report feelings and enable quick check-ins and trend tracking. Speakers also emphasized built-in “brain breaks” and movement breaks even when classes rely on digital tools. The work was presented at the ISTELive 26 + ASCD annual conference in Orlando in June, tying pedagogy choices to student wellness objectives. For colleges of education and education technology partners, the examples provide a concrete framework for aligning STEM instruction with student mental health needs rather than treating wellbeing as an add-on.