Cher Brasok - Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators

Acknowledgements

For my part in this book, I will be eternally grateful to my first teachers, my amazing parents, Isabelle and Norm Lawson. They taught me, through their commitment to community and social justice, to always take care. Jennifer E. Lawson

Heartfelt thanks to our courageous writers for your willingness to open your hearts and share your stories in support of teachers everywhere. And to the many educators I have worked with over the years who have taught me the true definition of resilience. Shannon Gander

What a wonderful experience it has been for me to be part of this collaboration with such beautiful people. Thanks. Elder Stanley Kipling

From my heart, I want to deeply acknowledge all my spiritual teachers (human and non-human alike), the ones in the past (my Ancestors), the present, and the future (the children). Whether you were aware of the impact you made or not, I have been blessed learning from you. Richelle North Star Scott

Thank you, teachers, for holding our future in your hands. This work that you do is more important than you can ever know. Laura Doney

I am forever grateful to be part of the teaching profession and want to thank my colleagues and fellow educators for their dedication and heart. You matter, your well-being matters, and you are appreciated. And thank you to all our family and friends who unconditionally uplift us along the journey. Dana Fulwiler Volk

I would like to thank all my friends, family, and the many teachers who have inspired and encouraged me along the way. May this book arrive for you perfectly on time! Keith Macpherson

I would like to honour and acknowledge my Creator, my family (especially my son, Luke), and all the mentors, helpers, healers, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders who have guided me on this journey. I am forever grateful. Lisa Dumas Neufeld

I would like to acknowledge the land I was born on, Treaty 6 territory. Its nature is a gift that has shaped me and is why I began working in the field of health. A most heartfelt thank you to the brilliant humans who have been my guiding lights: Jenn Carson, the Health Advisors Huddle, the Joyful Collective, and my Mum.
Megan Hunter

How wonderful its been to be part of this collaboration! The wellness of our educators is precious and important. Cher Brasok

Much thanks to Guy, Kimmy, Lindsey, Melanie, Jane, Jennifer, M.J., and Marilyn for your constant support. Joyce Sunada

Id like to acknowledge my brilliant and passionately creative colleagues who continuously inspire and foster wellness through arts experiences. Jackie Gagn

Thank you for the land and love grounding me; for my family, especially Chris, for supporting my wellness and writing; and for the students, families, and colleagues who have shared their wisdom. Monika Rosney

With the encouragement of my family and Jennifers support, this adventure has been a joy and honour. My gratitude for Genevieve, whose arrival in my life was a mysterious gift from the universe, is eternal. Without you, lady, I might still be in the basement with the band. Kelsey McDonald

To my family, friends, staff, and colleagues, who remind me to take care of my mind, body, and spirit. I am grateful for you. Sandra Pacheco Melo

Elder Stanley Kipling

Elder Stanley Kipling , Dip FNCW, BSW, MSW, RSW, is a proud Peguis First Nation individual. Stan has extensive experience in areas related to Indigenous diversity, health-care issues in Indigenous populations, improving Indigenous cultural awareness, spiritual care, suicide prevention, addictions, anger management, family violence prevention, life skills, and personal development. Stan was raised on the trap line, hunting, commercial fishing, and living on the land. Stan is a Sundancer and Pipe Carrier, as well as a traditional harvester of animals and plants, and he has held Sweat Lodges.

I want to call on the Great Spirit, Gitchee Manitou, to bring blessings to this book and to the people who have contributed to the writings. It is with a warm heart and an open mind that I ask Creator to help each and every person who reads these writings for comfort and guidance in some way. Creator knows our hearts and struggles, and I ask for guidance for us all, in a good way, to the parts of the book that will speak to us.

Indigenous People are told that when we work with people who are struggling, we must speak from the heart. I believe that this book will speak to the hearts of many.

Jennifer E. Lawson

Senior author Jennifer E. Lawson , PhD, is the originator and program editor of the Hands-On series published by Portage & Main Press. Jennifer writes, teaches in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, and is a local school board trustee. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Jennifer is a former classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, and principal. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with her husband, Barry, and sons, Devon and Jeremy.

T he year 2020 was like no other. It may have started in the usual way, at least for people living in Canada, but we were soon embroiled in a global pandemic that changed everything about our lives. This was the time that inspired the writing of Teacher, Take Care . However, concerns about educator wellness, or well-being (we use both terms in this book), existed long before COVID-19 and will continue to be a challenge far into the future.

Inspiration for this book came from my roles as a school trustee in Winnipeg and as an instructor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba. In both environments, I observed first-hand the stressors affecting pre-service and practising educators. In both roles, I organized initiatives to address educator wellness, including professional development opportunities aimed at promoting resilience and fostering positive mental health. These were well received, but it was evident that much more needed to be done to support educators at the systems level to foster workplace wellness and individual well-being.

Throughout 2020, I began working with a variety of professionals in education and mental health, all of whom were passionate about supporting educators. It was during this time that the idea of a handbook on educator well-being began to evolve. Meanwhile, I was also facing my own mental health challenges. My mom, who had lived with our family, passed away at the beginning of the lockdown. Not being able to grieve together, celebrate her life with a funeral, or be supported by friends was a very difficult experience that led to a period of depression and darkness. However, this experience offered me the opportunity to re-examine my views about mental health, seek support, and begin to practise self-care.

Through my professional and personal experiences over the past few years, it has become clear that all of us, teachers included, need to take this challenging time and grow from it. And so Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators was born, offering a variety of approaches to educator self-care and well-being.

I explored many of the ideas presented in this book when addressing my own self-care. Some worked well for me, such as using the arts to foster wellness. Other approaches were more challenging. For example, mindfulness is a trial for me. What I have learned from my journey is that we need to approach self-care as individuals, respecting our sense of what helps and what doesnt.