Fred Rogers was not a saint. As hard as that may be for some of us to believe, it is more helpful to think of him as “someone who despite his flaws as a human was dedicated to helping children,” according to Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski.

Behr and Rydzewski were the keynote speakers at Sunday’s General Session at NSBA’s Annual Conference in San Diego. Authors of the book, When You Wonder, You’re Learning, they outlined how Pittsburgh native Fred Rogers steeped his seminal television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood “in the science of learning.

The lessons of Fred Rogers have even more resonance today as students struggle with mental health issues, isolation, and other challenges that prevent them from achieving their highest potentials. “’Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ could be more than a pleasant memory,” said Rydzewski. “It could be a resource that if we study, it could point the way forward. We will talk about why Fred did it and how you can use it as a blueprint to create learning spaces where every child can learn.”

Before he started in in television, Rogers worked with Dr. Margaret McFarland, director of the Arsenal Family and Children’s Center in Pittsburgh. There, he also met child psychology luminaries Dr. Benjamin Spock and Erik Erikson, who influenced how Rogers designed his show. “Every aspect of the program was grounded in science,” said Behr. “He was a learning scientist decades ahead of his time.”

Rogers’ approach to communication came from Buddhist monk and author Thich Nhat Hanh. It involved deep listening and loving speech. Lovingly respect their feelings. First listen uncritically, waiting, listening, and more waiting. Then it’s our job to speak to them lovingly. “It’s an amazing way to think of communication,” said Behr. “Teachers are using this tool. When teachers greet students at the door in the morning with a simple act of loving speech,” children’s achievement went up.

Children are naturally curious, Rogers knew, and when children know it’s safe to ask questions and are given the tools to discover what intrigues them, it improves their mental health and well-being. On “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” adults asked questions, admitted when they made mistakes, and didn’t always have the answers.

Another lesson of Rogers was one that we all remember: when he looked at the television camera and said, “I like you just the way you are.”

“Fred knew we all need the same thing,” said Behr. “We human beings need to know that we are acceptable, that we are worth being proud of. We can show that in different ways, by using Fred’s tools.”