Last summer I went to my Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Steinhauer, about the possibility of participating in a pilot study of Mindfulness in our school district, Mt. Lebanon School District. Focusing on care and compassion for educators, the premise was that when we learn more about receiving care for ourselves and extending care to others, these practices of self compassion may have a positive impact on our overall well being. We ended up participating in that pilot study and that conversation was one of many we would have over the course of the following school year centering on positive psychology, social and emotional learning, mindfulness, self-care and self-compassion. That pilot study has now grown into a full-fledged program entitled Courage of Care. Courage of Care’s mission is to:
“provide training for people in all caring roles and professions to help them generate a power of compassion that is inclusive, discerning and self-replenishing, empowering their lives and work while protecting them from empathy fatigue and burnout.”
They have an array of programs, both online and in-person; for further explanation of these topics, please visit their website.
It has been a unique and powerful experience for me to have the shared interests and regular conversations with the leader of my organization about creating a flourishing environment where our students, staff, administrators and community-at-large can thrive.
Each year, the administrative team in our district attends a two-day leadership workshop to prepare for the upcoming school year. In previous years, the team had explored outcome measures and analyzed student performance. However, over the past several years, Dr. Steinhauer has incorporated a variety of self care elements into the workshop. I was honored when he invited me to attend this year’s workshop, not just as a participant, but as a presenter. Our theme is “Leading from the Inside Out.” Over the course of two days we are discussing mental well being, vitality and resilience.
Yesterday, we were fortunate to have Dr. David Creswell, of Carnegie Mellon University, speak to our group about his research in the areas of mindfulness, stress, health and human behavior, to name of few. The research is promising for the benefits of a Mindfulness practice. Creswell’s work was recently featured on the Today Show in a piece about the Mindfulness app, Headspace.
Today we heard from Krishna Pendyala, President of the Mindful Nation Foundation, Founder of Choice Ladder, and author of Beyond the PIG and the APE: Realizing Success and True Happiness. Penyala discussed social conditioning and our ability to flip our perspectives.
We also discussed the importance of sleep as part of our vitality and mental well being. This spring, I read Arianna Huffington’s new book The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time. Ms. Huffington, co-founder, and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, discusses the sleep crisis in which we find ourselves and puts forth a call to action for a sleep revolution. Some view their lack of sleep as badge of honor, and possibly perceive the need for sleep as a weakness. Huffington challenges us to rethink our perceptions of sleep. She methodically examines the history of sleep and shares current research about the need and benefits of a good night’s sleep. I reached out to Ms. Huffington with a question about her book and our Administrative Workshop, and was thrilled to receive a response from her. She had words of encouragement about the work we were doing and generously donated copies of her book to our entire team. From my experience as a psychology teacher, from my own research, and from personal experiences, I am convinced in the power of a regular good night’s sleep. It’s something I discuss with my stressed, sleep deprived students each year.
I would have never imagined that a fleeting conversation with my Superintendent over a year ago would have morphed into a positive leadership program that is committed to creating a flourishing environment for our school community. I am excited by the reception that Courage of Care has received by our District leaders and anticipate another successful school year in which we find our focus, center our compassion and continue to foster mental well being and resilience.
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