Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Webinar Series: Prioritizing Well-Being Among School and District Staff, Educators, and Administrators

The California Department of Education and I are pleased to support the “Prioritizing Well-Being Among School and District Staff, Educators, and Administrators” webinar series.

Join the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (https://www.healthiergeneration.org/our-work/schools/thriving-schools-integrated-assessment) and Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools (https://thrivingschools.kaiserpermanente.org/) for a monthly professional learning series dedicated to prioritizing staff well-being. During these one-and-a-half-hour interactive sessions, participants will hear from experts in the field, engage in peer learning and practice strategies, and explore implementation resources that can be applied back to their work settings.

Topics will include relationship-building, gratitude systems, and space for staff breaks as well as other well-being-related topics determined by participants:

• School Offers Opportunities for Staff Gratitude (February 22 at 1 p.m.)

Sustainable, ongoing, two-way gratitude practices can significantly increase staff well-being and productivity. Join us to share best practices and success stories to create opportunities for gratitude at your school or district.

• Space in Schools for Staff Breaks (March 14 at 1 p.m.)

Ensuring staff have a place to relax, enhanced by a system of support, is critical for the well-being and culture of the workplace. Discover how to create these vital spaces for your school or district staff and create a happier and healthier environment.

• Wrap-Up Session (April 11 at 1 p.m.)

Content for the final session and breakout discussions will be determined by participant-identified priorities and previous session feedback.

I encourage all school and district staff—regardless of position or title and including cafeteria workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, teachers, and administrators—to join this no-cost webinar series. Health and well-being are fundamental to our success in educating youth, engaging families, collaborating with colleagues, and maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Therefore, we must put our well-being at the forefront while serving others.

Please register via Zoom to attend sessions live or receive the recordings.

We stand by you in your commitment to promote the well-being of all members of our school and district communities.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Dr. Karrie Sequeira, Education Programs Consultant, California Department of Education Office of School-Based Health Programs, at 916-319-0202 or ksequeira@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction