Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working with students and staff in schools, I lead youth and adults to explore the roots of social emotional wellness. I offer young people and the adults who support them an opportunity to increase individual agency in the areas of growth mindset, self efficacy, self management and social awareness. I utilize the principles of mindfulness and restorative practices to ensure equitable environments and safe, inclusive communities. TeachWell is inspired by my own experience working in schools, as well as witnessing the challenges faced by fellow educators and colleagues. While many educators are wholeheartedly committed to the work, all too often they struggle to stay in the profession. After spending many years in the public school system, it became a toxic environment. I was not “well”. I felt emotions that I could not quite identify as my own, including anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. I felt ineffective in my role and isolated in my experience. For this reason, I began a more regular mindfulness practice and shared that practice with the teachers around me. The calm and camaraderie that we experienced was refreshing. It made us feel resilient.
At the same time, we took a closer look at the core competencies of social emotional learning that classroom teachers were tasked with integrating into their teaching. It occurred to me that none of our trainings were asking teachers to reflect on their own experience or explore their own capacity for these social emotional skills. This was an essential missing piece that needed to be addressed immediately.
As a coach for Restorative Justice Practices, I was aware that a strong and encouraging community is fundamental in the education system. Were we doing enough to facilitate a sense of support and belonging among our staff? As I began my research on the needs of public school educators, the vision for TeachWell came together. The response by our participants confirm TeachWell’s foundational beliefs. Educators need intentional, supportive environments to share and reflect on their experience. They need accessible techniques to manage stress and set goals. They need time to strategize and problem-solve collaboratively. Educators need to be well in order to teach well.
Each day, I’m inspired by the stories I hear from educators. The TeachWell model is validated by research regarding the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills, the positive impact that Restorative Justice Practices is having in schools, and the value of Mindfulness in each teaching practice. Please follow my blog so that you too can be inspired, track with the discoveries in the field, and to find ideas on how to integrate TeachWell into your practice as an educator.
Be Well,
Anne Hipskind Roberts, MSW/PPSC
TeachWell Founder
Part of the journey toward the creation of TeachWell was to tell the story of the struggles of educators. This was both a personal and public call to action to address the well-being of educators, particularly in our public schools.
“In order to succeed, people need a sense of self-efficacy, to struggle together with resilience to meet the inevitable obstacles and inequities of life.”