Most of us are spread very thin and time is of greatest value, particularly among those who are playing dual roles of being an educator and mentor to large groups of students five days a week as well as parenting to one or more children 24/7. And for many, the additional caretaker responsibility of aging parents and relatives makes our work harder and days even longer. Managing personal and professional obligations has undeniably become a challenge for many during these unpredictable times, regardless of the age of our dependents, our time-management skills, or our ability to multi-task. I’ve realized it’s okay to say, I can’t do much more or go at it alone. Most of us strive to achieve balance personally and professionally, but our current and necessary focus on personal safety and social restrictions has made this incredibly difficult. The simple truth is that each of us is in need of understanding phases of change, seeking opportunities for growth, and identifying personal strengths to help create and establish a vision for a healthier normal among each other and our families.
We inherently know that to be good for others, we must be good to ourselves first, so my hope is that our TUSD community will choose to participate in Dr. Lauren Hodges virtual program, “Fundamentals of Well-Being and Balance,” composed of webinars specific to related needs of all staff and parents. Additionally, “team huddles” for teachers and administrative teams at each site have been prioritized because we recognize the greatest demands occur at our schools—in classrooms and on the screens. Several of my Superintendent colleagues have shared the benefits and positive feedback that Dr. Lauren Hodges, and her wellness program, have brought to them and their staffs over the past several months. So I listened and responded thoughtfully after reflecting on the many conversations I’ve recently had with several of you. We agree our work is different, but our needs quite similar, so an additional opportunity for all of us will kick-off very soon.
The first of six voluntary all-staff webinars will be held on Monday, December 14 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; these and similar parent webinars will continue in the evenings throughout the 2020-21 school year to accommodate the majority of staff’s work schedules and family responsibilities. Team huddles will be facilitated during the work day. Based on the 40+ staff who will voluntarily join me on the evening of December 7 to learn more about their Gallup “strengths,” my gut tells me that multiple opportunities to learn and care about ourselves are timely and relevant in our quest for balance and well-being. Let’s face it—we are planners and doers so our current reality of uncertainty prevents us from planning our work, but it shouldn’t preclude us from becoming more healthy, mindful, and confident. Our strengths are real; our needs are too. My hope is that you will take advantage of these opportunities as we move into 2021 with both hope and apprehension. I have the greatest belief in my TUSD colleagues and my hope is that your belief will grow with the opportunity to reflect and be mindful.
