JALSD Staff Wellness
PBIS and Staff Wellness
Staff wellness is crucial because educators' well-being directly impacts the learning environment, student outcomes, and overall school culture. Healthy, engaged staff members are more effective in their roles, able to manage stress better, and maintain positive relationships with students. When educators are supported in their wellness, they can sustain the energy, patience, and empathy needed to foster a supportive and productive classroom climate.
Staff wellness is deeply connected to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and our framework for promoting positive behavior in students and creating a conducive learning environment. We know that PBIS relies on consistency, positive reinforcement, and a unified approach to behavior management, all of which are challenging to maintain if staff are experiencing burnout or high levels of stress.
By prioritizing staff wellness, we can better ensure that teachers and support staff have the mental and emotional resources needed to implement PBIS effectively. In turn, a well-implemented PBIS system can reduce stressors for staff by decreasing behavioral issues and fostering a more supportive school community.
Through the BLT's we have identified the following ways staff wellness can support PBIS:
Modeling Positive Behaviors: When staff are well, they can model the positive behaviors and social-emotional skills PBIS encourages in students, such as resilience, calmness in conflict, and constructive problem-solving.
Enhanced Engagement: Healthy staff members are more likely to be engaged and enthusiastic, which helps sustain PBIS initiatives and maintain the consistency that PBIS frameworks require.
Reduced Burnout: PBIS involves continuous reinforcement of positive behaviors, which can be taxing without proper support. Staff wellness programs that address stress management, work-life balance, and mental health reduce burnout and absenteeism, which strengthens the PBIS framework's continuity.
Building Stronger Relationships: Staff well-being improves relationship-building capabilities with students, which is central to PBIS. Positive staff-student relationships are foundational for creating a trusting, respectful environment where positive behavior can thrive.
By investing in staff wellness, schools build a healthier, more supportive environment for both educators and students, ultimately enhancing PBIS outcomes and contributing to a more positive school culture.
2024-2025
During our 2024-25 opening meeting, Board President, Scott Ardary, talked about the importance of staff wellness. Our school district believes that the well-being of our staff is the cornerstone of our collective success. We recognize that taking care of oneself physically and mentally is not just a personal responsibility, but a professional one as well. By prioritizing wellness, we empower our team to bring their best selves to work every day, fostering a healthier, more productive, and supportive environment for each other and our students.
This page is dedicated to providing resources, tips, and support to help you maintain balance, manage stress, and cultivate a lifestyle that nurtures both your body and mind. This Year BLTs will explore how we can promote and assist with staff wellness.
Below are resources to support our staff wellness process.
Wellness as a part of you Benefit Package
JALSD's Anthem Blue Cross Coverage provides covered staff with benefits that include Tele-Health and Tele Mental Health resources in addition to traditional medical provide visitation processes.
To find information login to your account: https://www.anthem.com/account-login/
Inside your account you can review your plan and support:
Now you can connect to the care you need through the Sydney Health mobile app or anthem.com. Have a live video visit with licensed therapists, board-certified psychologists, and psychiatrists through private video visits on your computer with a camera. Flyer Click Here
Virtual Care Options Flyer - Click Here
Expanding your online options - Click Here
Physical Wellness Rooms
In each building we have established a Physical Wellness Room. These rooms have exercise equipment for staff to utilize before, during or after school.
Exercise offers numerous benefits for both physical and mental well-being. Physically, regular exercise strengthens the heart, improves circulation, and boosts the immune system, helping to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It also enhances muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance, which can improve overall functional ability and reduce the risk of injury. Mentally, exercise is known to release endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters, which can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, exercise can improve cognitive function, enhance sleep quality, and increase energy levels, contributing to a better quality of life.
Left: Jr. / Sr. Health Room
How to Start Exercising: A Beginner’s Guide to Working Out: Healthline
PBIS and Staff Wellness
We have spent a lot of time in developing a PBIS program that supports students and their families. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is also a proactive approach that can enhance staff wellness.
PBIS focuses on creating a positive work environment by promoting and reinforcing healthy behaviors and attitudes. By applying the principles of PBIS, schools can cultivate a supportive culture where staff members feel valued, motivated, and empowered to prioritize their well-being. This approach not only enhances individual wellness but also contributes to a more cohesive and productive workplace. Through PBIS, we need to encourage everyone to engage in practices that foster mental, emotional, and physical health, creating a ripple effect of positivity and well-being throughout our organization.
Building a Culture of Staff Wellness Through Multi-Tiered System of Supports (Center on PBIS)
RESOURCES For BLTs
Supporting School Wellness Toolkit (DEW)
Staff Self-Care
Regulate yourself to regulate your classroom.
Recognize the signs of compassion fatigue.
Take steps toward self-care.
Monitor your feelings of stress, anger, or sadness and seek support.
Society for Public Health Education
A Toolkit for Supporting the Implementation of School Employee Wellness in Districts/ Schools