A Community Approach to Teacher Self-Care

Self-care has become the new buzz word in education. The pandemic reignited the importance of investing in SEL for students, but to reach students investing in educator self-care and wellbeing is a crucial part of this process. To ensure educators can model good self-care techniques they themselves must experience it. When we practice self-care and model it in the classroom early on, students can better model it in their own lives. 

Let’s start first with a clear definition of self-care. Self-care is anything you do to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally well. Research suggests self-care promotes positive health outcomes, such as fostering resilience, living longer, and becoming equipped to manage stress. 

Self-advocacy-promoting and supporting our own interests and well-being requires reflection and self-awareness. Like many districts across the region, Olean City School District has made staff self-care a focus by providing support and resources through their monthly Personnel and Wellness (PAWS) newsletter. Each month, the newsletter provides a topic that centers on monthly themes from the Onward Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators text written by Elena Aguilar. Staff have an opportunity to participate in a variety of SEL opportunities including some of the following:

• Spotlight Podcast: Teaching Champions Created by: Brian Martin, 2nd Grade Teacher, OCSD

As someone working in the educational field taking care of yourself is easier said than done. Often self-care comes last. However, taking care of ourselves is extremely important for our wellbeing. This episode discusses the four gaps in self-care that people in the educational field struggle with and offers tips and strategies to bring more balance into our lives. Teaching Champions on Apple Podcasts

• Self-Care Circles: Facilitated by: Jillian Putnam and Tessa Levitt, CA BOCES Coordinators for Professional Development

Will provide a virtual Self-Care Circle focused on the theme of Taking Care of Yourself. When your body is well cared for, you're better able to deal with emotions and have a healthy self-perception.  Resilient people make sure they take care of themselves.  You can't be patient and attentive with kids and deliver carefully crafted lessons if you're not taking care of your needs FIRST.  It is CLEAR that our physical state impacts our emotional state, why don't we take better care of ourselves? 

• Metime Self-Care Workshop: Facilitated by: Lisa Ralston, Lead Educator

In November, self-care is the root of resilience when you’re dragging yourself toward winter break and your emotions are raw (Aguilar, 147). What does your body desperately need? How can you take better care of yourself? Do you feel appreciated, worthy, loved, and accepted? In our November MEtime we’ll do a physical practice to strengthen our will power and lengthen our hip flexors. As well as move in joyful ways with mental focus that help us release and refresh our mindsets. Identifying our needs will also be on the agenda, so we walk away knowing what is important to stay healthy, balanced, and growing. 
​
As educators we must make the commitment to prioritize self-care in order to successfully be able to help others. These are some of the many ways to incorporate self-care with educators around the region. It’s like the saying goes “You cannot serve from an empty vessel” Eleanor Brownn.
 
By: Jillian Putnam, CA BOCES Professional Development 

---