Staff Feeling Great About the Work they do - Wellbeing and Self Care
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No one would argue that a high quality education is one of America’s greatest equalizers. Few things have proven to change the trajectory of a child’s future more than a high quality education, but we know these life changing occurrences only happen when high quality educators feel passion for their work.
In an effort to improve the mindset of its staff, school districts are working about shifting its focus from not only doing great work, but making sure people in the organization feel great about the work they do.
They focused on their most critical resource, the people. Every person in the district including teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, maintenance workers, bus drivers, administrators, and lunch supervisors were provided multi-step training in happiness. Yes!Happiness, Wellbeing and Self Care.
So why would a district whose main purpose is to educate its students invest in happiness? Because happiness fuels success, not the other way around. The nearly decade long research of Shawn Achor became the basis for this work. Shawn Achor’s research proves that when we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigorous research inpsychology and neuroscience, management studies, and the bottom lines of organizations around the globe.
Knowing this research would impact the way staff viewed themselves and the work they are doing, the principles ofthe Happiness Advantage authored by Shawn Achor became the focus of the district. Prior to the start of the school year, the staff was brought together to begin the year to hear a very poignant message. They matter and we will focuson them, both personally and professionally. By simply focusing on our adults and helping them be and feel better, we knew we would simultaneously be helping every student they support.
Education has always focused on what teachers needed to become better teachers – it was about teaching and learning. This shift to a personal investment in all individuals demonstrated that they were important. They matter. Teachers from across the district continue to come together to share stories of how they took Achor’s research around happiness and potential and applied it to their personal and professional lives. Staff have shared how theyshare gratitude before every meeting at work and prior to dinner at home with their families. Others shared that theyquit smoking and took up yoga. Students have observed their teachers living this work and have begun publicly recognizing other students for great work. The ripple effect is beginning to spread throughout the community. This focus on happiness is changing lives. People are becoming happier and thus, more successful. While more success fuels educators certainly means more successful students, evidence is proving that we can again, in education, do great work and feel great about it.