A roadmap for schools to build teacher wellbeing We know teacher stress is high, with increasing workloads and climbing societal expectations. School leaders want to support the wellbeing of their staff but are often uncertain how, or where to start. What we do know is that one-off interventions do not work, and wellbeing is more than just the individual’s responsibility. Wellbeing is complex, multidimensional, and contextual. Teacher wellbeing is, according to a 2020 study by Daniela Falecki and Elizabeth Mann: “The psychological capacity for teachers to manage normal stressors within the profession, including awareness of positive emotional states. This includes setting authentic goals, celebrating accomplishments, maintaining positive connections with others, and reflecting on meaning and impact.”
Daniela Falecki, Founder and Director, Teacher Wellbeing
For schools to effectively build the psychological capacity of teachers, schools must take an evidence-based strategic approach to strengthen the wellbeing of their staff, much like they would when planning student wellbeing programs. Having worked with hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers across Australia, there are five
TEACHER WELLBEING RESOURCES EMPTOEAWCHEERRS
SIMPLE
POSITIV E CONNEC
TIONS
NG GFUL PRACTICAL WELLRBEMEINIDERS Workshops, Online Courses & Consulting
MEANIN
Conversation starters PD Activities to boost morale
Reflective moments Solution-focussed planning
www.teacher-wellbeing.com.au 24
clear steps to build positive and sustainable wellbeing initiatives for staff in schools. These steps form a roadmap and act as a transformative guide for schools to follow. The roadmap supports the change journey by recognising both individual and collective needs within each school’s context. Given wellbeing is not a destination but an ongoing commitment to improvement, the roadmap helps schools navigate this path with five Es.
Step 1 – EXPLAIN Given the complex nature of wellbeing and people’s different understandings of what wellbeing means, it is imperative to spend time explaining the science of wellbeing, the research and evidence-based strategies. The foundation of this science comes from positive psychology. The first step in the roadmap is planning regular, quality professional learning to give people opportunities to think, feel, reflect, and connect in safe and meaningful ways when discussing wellbeing. This can be sequential twilight sessions, full day sessions, or online.
Step 2 - EXPERIENCE As we know, teaching does not always equal learning. People need opportunities to practice, apply, and live wellbeing initiatives that were explored in training. A toolbox of activities needs to be planned and sequenced throughout the year, much like we would with student wellbeing initiatives. This could involve small yet regular wellbeing conversations in staff meetings, wellbeing-buddy activities and a staff wellbeing board with weekly reminders and actions. Our chat
TEACHER’S DESK
box and connect box cards support this with great activities to build solution-focussed wellbeing conversations. You can find these at www.teacher-wellbeing.com.au. Perhaps most essential to this step is encouraging self-determination with choice, connections to knowledge and shared experiences.
Step 3 - EVALUATE As wellbeing initiatives begin to build momentum over time, the next step is to stop and review what is working and what areas might need more focussed attention. An external coach can help school leaders ask, listen, and reflect in positive and solution-focussed ways that encourage teacher-voice. An Appreciative Inquiry summit is one model for schools to utilise as an empowering reflection tool.
Step 4 – EMBED Wellbeing is not solely the responsibility of individuals. Schools are organic systems with structures and processes that can directly impact wellbeing. The next step is for school leaders to review existing policies and procedures that may impact wellbeing, e.g. meetings during report periods or sterile staffroom facilities. In this step, plans are created that support wellbeing through policies, process and the physical environment.
Step 5 – EVOLVE Just as the development of physical wellbeing requires regular attention and focus coupled with positive action, so does psychological wellbeing. The next step is to return to the start of the roadmap to begin the process again in an evolving cycle of improvement. Term 4, 2020 | school-news.com.au