User Spotlight: David Linsmeyer | St. Croix Central Elementary

At St. Croix Central Elementary, school counselor David Linsmeyer is a trusted support for students with social and behavioral needs, and his work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Related resources:

• social skills videos
• social skills lessons

His school counseling program recently received the prestigious Program of Promise award, the highest honor for data-driven, comprehensive programs from the Wisconsin School Counselors Association. Still, David found himself facing challenges that many educators know all too well.

With limited planning time and a full schedule, he was often left piecing together materials from Google or Teachers Pay Teachers, hoping the content would stick.

“I always felt like I was ‘making it up,’” David shared. “Even if I found activities, I typically questioned whether they were relevant to my students’ needs.”

“Before Everyday Speech, my small groups lacked a constructive focus. I had difficulty explaining activities to parents and keeping students engaged. Everyday Speech changed this.”

A 92% Reduction in Prep Time

With Everyday Speech, things have changed for the better. David now uses the platform daily in his Tier 2 and 3 small-group and individual counseling sessions, selecting lessons aligned to students’ specific needs and goals.

Perhaps most transformative has been the time saved. David’s weekly social skills prep has dropped from over 1 hour to 5 minutes per week, a staggering 92% reduction.

He credits the platform’s educator toolkit and tiered lesson organization for making planning effortless and highly targeted.

“Now, small groups are one of the most productive parts of my day. Not only is Everyday Speech time-saving, but the curriculum is engaging, and I can easily share lessons and activities with families for better exposure.” 

David’s confidence going into sessions has grown as much as his efficiency. “I was just bragging to a co-worker about how our small groups and individual counseling sessions have such productivity and reliable content.”

Using features like Playlists, he’s able to build thematic units that he can tailor and reuse across groups. “Kids love it, the prep is easy, the style is consistent, and sharing homework with teachers and parents is the greatest communication tool I’ve ever had.”

Scaling Schoolwide Success

As David streamlined his work and improved the quality of his small group sessions, his school took notice: not just of the improved student outcomes, but of the clarity, consistency, and confidence with which he delivered each lesson.

As a result, St. Croix Central Elementary plans to implement Everyday Speech’s Tier 1 curriculum school-wide next year. David’s modeling of the platform’s impact played a key role in that decision, showing colleagues what’s possible.

“This is by far the most robust and user-friendly curriculum that I have used.”

But the real payoff? He now has the bandwidth to support system-level change.

“I’ve reinvested more time into improving Tier 1 schoolwide practices. I’m no longer spinning my wheels and can address some of the roots of our behavioral concerns.”

Outcome-Driven Social Skills

In his role, David tracks key student outcomes, such as attendance, academic performance, and behavioral data throughout his efforts.

He doesn’t make sweeping claims; in fact, he’s the first to acknowledge the complexity of drawing direct lines of causation. Still, the data tells a compelling story. “In many situations, students’ academic achievement increases when they are receiving social support.”

These shifts are part of a holistic system that addresses both skill development and emotional readiness to learn. With this growing body of internal evidence, David’s school leadership team has committed fully. 

“Because of this, each classroom will use Everyday Speech next year.”

This isn’t just a one-off intervention; it’s a school-wide strategy. Every teacher will have access to the tools, every classroom will incorporate these concepts, and every student will benefit from consistent instruction that aligns with their needs and goals. 

When asked what he would share with a new user, Linsmeyer said, “Everyday Speech will be your best friend for teaching reliable content, communicating to parents and teachers, and documenting all of your efforts.” And his favorite endorsement?

“If education had an easy button, it would have a big Everyday Speech sticker on it.”