40: Nurturing Student and Educator Well-Being

“Integrating SEL skills for students and adults is paramount in times of adversity and crisis. Specifically, the pandemic placed a spotlight on issues of inequity within the educational system, and mental health and trauma-related issues tend to increase for students, families, and educators in the midst of trials or suffering of any kind.”

— Michelle Trujillo from Social Emotional Well-Being for Educators (p10)

Subscribe to the Cultivating Resilience Podcast

Apple Podcasts      

Our Guest

A lifelong educator, Michelle Trujillo M.Ed is a Co-Founder of the Center for Learning and Well-Being and is known to make a tangible, sustainable, and positive difference through her books, speaking engagements, and interactive workshops. Named Nevada’s 2016 Innovative Educator of the Year, Michelle has appeared on television (including Oprah), podcasts, and radio nationwide. Michelle partners with school districts, professional educational associations, educational service agencies, and conference organizers to provide relevant answers to future-facing challenges. Michelle’s books include Social Emotional Well-Being for Educators (Corwin, 2022), Thriving through Adversity: Powerful Strategies for Educators to Ignite Hope, Inspire Students and Transform Schools (Center for Learning and Well-Being, 2022), and Start with the Heart: Igniting Hope in Schools Through Social and Emotional Learning (Corwin, 2019).

Summary

In a conversation about the challenges and well-being of educators, Michelle, a former teacher and principal, emphasized the importance of educational leaders understanding and supporting the well-being of their teachers to meet the academic and emotional needs of students effectively. She also introduced a framework for well-being that focused on six components: being reflective, intentional, empathetic, connected, accountable, and equitable.

Key points

Mental Health and Wellness for educators. (5:06)

The importance of social-emotional well-being for educators. (9:38)

Michelle’s six-part framework for social-emotional well-being. (13:42)

The importance of being accountable to ourselves. (16:19)

Creating a community of care and collective responsibility. (20:28)

Strategies to nourish your well-being. (25:25)

How to promote well-being. (33:05)

What we learned from the interview. (34:47)

Leveraging strengths and opportunities for growth. (40:12)


In her own words – post-interview Q&A with Michelle Trujillo

Are you looking to foster a more inclusive and compassionate school environment? Learn more about the Compassionate School Leadership Academy (CSLA)! The CSLA prepares school leaders in high-need districts to implement trauma-informed practices in the classroom to meet the urgent mental health needs of American children.

Gain insight into your school culture. The CSLA is supported by a customized assessment tool—the School Compassionate Culture Analytical Tool for Educators (S-CCATE)—designed to gauge and change school cultures to ensure more equitable and compassionate school practices.

 To learn more and complete the S-CCATE, click here:

https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3OAA0IZvvzWGkw6 

Jeff IklerSeason 2