For my final Project I decided to begin the process of starting a wellness program for the school district that I am currently working at. The four years that I have worked for this district, I have noticed that there are not very many opportunities that focus on the health and wellness of the staff and faculty. I thought it would be a great idea to research the importance of having a wellness program for the staff members in education and how it can benefit us.
I started off with sending an online assessment to my colleagues at the high school to gain more knowledge about their needs and current health related issues. After evaluating this pre-assessment, I came to the conclusion that the staff that I currently work with is super busy and holding in person meetings/activities might be challenging. So, I gathered this information and focused on their needs to come up with an online resource for the staff to utilize that focuses on health and wellness.
The website that I have designed for my staff is separated by month. I have included a few pictures from activities that we have done as a staff that are related to each month. For example, April is National Stress Awareness Month so I have provided information that relates to decreasing stress levels and different stress management techniques. I also organized for a massage therapist to come in to our school to provide the staff with a small break from work and receive a 5-minute chair massage. This stress relieving technique was one of the examples that is stated on my website.
I also provided the staff with several resources in order to take a “brain break”. An example of a “brain break” that I created for the staff would be our stations. There are stations around the building in which they are asked to scan a QR code that provides them with a specific physical activity and shows a video on how to do the exercise. The reason why I chose to do this was based on my pre-assessment. The majority of the staff does not have the time or desire to attend meetings so this will give them the opportunity to complete an activity on their own time.
I have found that with this staff, if I provide them with the resources, they will utilize them when they can. I think that I have hit a larger crowd by following this routine compared to my other idea which was holding monthly meetings. I look forward to compiling my post-assessment information to determine if what I have done so far with the development of this program has been beneficial to my staff! I hope that this wellness program will continue especially because I will be leaving this particular school district next year and will not be there to help administer it.
Education for your Mind and Body
By Lindsay Ross
Let's take a brain break!