Staff Social Emotional Support

We have hit another milestone - 2nd and 3rd graders along with one fifth grade class, that is Michelle Fischer’s class are in the building!  A transition amidst many transitions, to be sure. 

We are hearing so much in the news, daily outcries from all fronts, that kids are struggling with serious stuff like depression and even suicides.  The nation is tuned in to our students’ social emotional well being; and, that is wonderful, we know and value it deeply, and have it front and center. 

Today, I want to highlight staff social emotional well being.  Where’s the country’s out cry about our social emotional well being?  It seems that the movers and shakers barely broach that idea.  Are the people outside the schools even aware that many of us need support for our social emotional well being?  

I am concerned about all of you - your overall well being.  I recognize that navigating the virus and all these transitions and changes are stressful, such a balancing act.   It is normal to be questioning much of what we are doing right now. We know what we did in years past worked.  But now, we have to let what we are doing, what we are learning, breath.  We simply are too close to hybrid, to the virus, to grapple with the bigger truths that later we will be able to name.   

Maybe some of us are feeling we aren’t being successful.  Maybe some of us are fearing that we won’t find our groove.  

I used some of these questions with a grade level team this meeting.  The questions were aimed at uncovering some of the social emotional needs of this group.  As the principal, I wanted to hear their mindsets and work with them to address their concerns.  

  • How valuable do you think your work is right now?  
  • What are you struggling with?
  • What’s going well? Or What’s working for you right now?
  • Why are we doing hybrid? 
  • How can we support one another in this transitional period?
  • What has gotten you through difficult times in your life? We can rely on such practices now - to carry us through and over.

Your work is valuable, staff. We are a huge support for our kids and for one another.  Take a step back, if need be and think about your profession.  You have one of the most meaningful jobs of any job, you are caring for kids, giving them footing as they move forward to becoming healthy competent adults and citizens.  

Marty

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