This fall, the TeachWell Team, with the support of the San Mateo County Office of Education, facilitated a Training of Trainers for nearly 40 educators across San Mateo County. It was such joy for me to facilitate with the dynamic duo of TeachWell’s, Shyla Batliwalla and Alejandro Vilchez. Our newest partner, Katie Rosas, who still teaches daily, joined us as a participant and will help support school-based teams who attended the training as they implement wellness strategies. Teams are taking the inspiration to tailor wellness efforts that range from professional development days to wellness challenges, to staff wellness centers and tool kits. Efforts vary depending on the needs and resources available to each team, but all are a blend of human-centered, authentic approaches with data-driven strategies. Across the board, participants understand that educators must Be Well to Teach Well.
Deep gratitude to Mary McGrath and all the staff at San Mateo County Office of Education, who understand that adult social-emotional literacy and wellbeing are fundamental to safe, inclusive, and successful school communities. I am forever grateful to my team - Shyla, Alejandro, and Katie - for putting your hearts into this work. And I am always inspired and in awe of our educators, who share such passion and who harness profound collective wisdom to effectively serve students and families.