Healthy working environments are important for teacher retention and teacher productivity, but there is also a direct link between the well-being of teachers and the educational outcomes of their students.
A recent report showed that “elementary school teachers who have greater stress and show more symptoms of depression create classroom environments that are less conducive to learning, which leads to poor academic performance among students.”
Effects of teacher stress range from lower scores on math tests to more behavior problems and lower levels of social adjustment and student engagement.
The report also outlined several proven interventions and programs to reduce teacher stress and ensure that school environments are healthier for both teachers and students. These included staff wellness and mindfulness programs.
Wellness programs can cover a wide range of health-related topics and can be customized to meet the needs of the staff. Most programs offer options for nutrition, education on preventing disease, physical fitness, and stress management.
Schools try so many things to increase student achievement: better curriculum, technology, more qualified teachers. But what if the answer was not only in enriching students’ experience, but to support their teachers?
Districts all around the country are struggling with teacher retention and recruitment. On top of that, teachers often report feeling burned out and overworked. Prioritizing teacher wellness can help with these issues. It might even lead to increased student achievement.
Insight Wellness Works is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and has been serving employers (including schools and municipalities) in Tampa Bay and its surrounding cities since 2010. We have a large team of credentialed wellness professionals offering a variety of workplace wellness services that focus on promoting health and preventing disease. We change lives and transform the culture of health in workplaces. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business and employees achieve wellness goals.
