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Recalling the tried-and-true “put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others” analogy, when teachers are engaged, present, and in the right frame of mind to instruct, positive student outcomes follow. Once overlooked, this critical principle is now gaining traction when it comes to supporting educator wellness. Just recently, an article by EdWeek revealed that 52% of surveyed districts stated prioritizing educator professional development around mental well-being was a key need. But for many schools, supporting their educators within the framework of existing responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Finding effective solutions, understanding what works, and fitting one more program into already packed schedules can feel daunting…but simple, high-impact solutions with proven outcomes do exist.
Daily Practice Is Key
When teachers learn and use supportive practices, that build their life skills and resiliency to manage the demands of their jobs, in their everyday routines, there’s a significant positive impact on educator well-being. CDC data shows that such training programs have been associated with the following mental health outcomes among teachers and school staff:
- Decreased stress
- Less anxiety
- Improved well-being
Additionally, after completion of resiliency-based professional development:
- High school teachers and staff perceived work to be less stressful and reported decreased stress levels overall.
- Teachers, including educators of children with special needs, experienced reductions in stress, feelings of anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
A Comprehensive Approach to PD Benefits Educators and Students
When thinking about school performance, student outcomes, and an educator’s role in shaping student learning, it is important to prepare educators to handle the evolving needs of classroom management that go beyond foundational academic teaching. According to the CDC, “poor teacher well-being and mental health is also associated with lower-quality learning environments and poorer academic achievement among students.” At the end of the school year, all districts want to showcase student achievement and improved outcomes. By investing in educator wellness-focused professional learning, teachers become part of a supportive environment, which correlates with a higher level of performance.
For example, there is a positive relationship between students’ academic motivation and the support they receive from teachers as well as parents and friends. That sense of support has been shown to positively impact students’ motivation to learn5, thus students with higher levels of support have higher levels of academic motivation. And when student motivation is high, so is their engagement, leading to more positive outcomes.
A Proven Way to Prioritize Educator Well-Being
No two schools are alike, yet every school strives to improve and provide relevant professional development opportunities to solve their unique needs. Having easy-todeliver solutions that blend practical tools and implementation strategies to build educator well-being is critical. What if there were a solution that could build educator resilience within your PD program?
Catapult Learning has successfully supported schools and districts around the nation with comprehensive professional learning solutions that increase educator well-being. When PD is offered to educators in a variety of ways – personal coaching, asynchronous learning, and group workshops – and they can choose their method of delivery, the development is well received, and the outcomes are strong.
Three Easy Ways to Get Started
Getting started with wellness-focused professional development is easy. Whether your focus is new teacher development or experienced teacher skills enrichment, Catapult Learning has flexible solutions to support educator well-being and resilience with PD that’s delivered how and when it’s needed. We’ll work with your schools to tailor and execute an implementation plan, aligned to your specific needs that includes:
Research consistently shows that teachers who work closely with instructional coaches are more likely to remain with their schools. Catapult Learning’s one-on-one, asynchronous and in-person coaching is an impactful way to provide educators with expert support. We work with your educators to equip them with the personalized tools and strategies they need to build resilience and create positive outcomes in the classroom.
Asynchronous professional learning empowers educators with the flexibility to engage in self-paced, high-quality professional development, accommodating their busy schedules and diverse learning needs. Catapult Learning offers a wide range of on-demand courses through our PDNow online platform, which gives your educators 24/7 access to high-quality, relevant professional learning courses that they can complete anywhere, anytime.
Educator workshops provide valuable opportunities for collaborative, hands-on learning that deepens teachers’ skills, fosters peer connections, and directly supports effective classroom practices. Our instructor-led PD and resilience training workshops provide research-based best practices and support that leave educators feeling refreshed, motivated, and better equipped to handle their students’ needs.
As your partner in improving educator well-being, Catapult Learning is here to make implementation of these solutions seamless, simple, and stress-free. Regardless of how you decide to support the resilience and mental health of your educators, we’re ready to help.
Contact Us Today To Learn More On Driving Positive Outcomes for your Students