In a time when teacher burnout and staff shortages are especially relevant issues in education, Gina Walter believes it's important for educators to practice what they preach.

“I think it’s really important that we as educators learn to take care of ourselves,” said Walter, a high school counselor at the Cornell School District. “I think that if we don’t take care of ourselves and be healthy emotionally, socially and physically, then we have to think about if we’re being helpful for the kids that we’re teaching."

On April 15, Walter was one of a large, diverse group of educators from throughout the region that attended an Educator Self-Care Day at the AIU. The purpose of the event was to connect attendees with a number of resources and self-care methods that they could take with them into their personal and professional lives.

Ursula Lesis, an organizational development consultant, coach, facilitator, and educator, started the day with a keynote speech entitled, ‘Permission for Self-Care: Embracing Vulnerability, Resilience, & Awareness’.

Attendees then separated into breakout sessions for lessons — many of them hands-on — throughout the building. Among the many activities, attendees participated in yoga, meditation, mindful movement, forest bathing, sound baths and pet therapy.

“I’ve never been to an event like this before,” said Abby Longwell, the assistant principal at Cornell High School.

“A lot of times we’re told things that we can do and what we should do in schools, but in this one we’re actually sitting there and doing it. So to be able to actually sit in a sound bath and experience that, to learn about therapy dogs and actually play with them, to do mindful movement, it was really helpful.”

Longwell and Walter concurred that they’ll look to bring some of the skills learned back into their district, especially making note of the sound baths and pet therapy. Down the road, they're p;anning to hold an educator wellness day for their district. The day offered plenty of ideas for the event.

“We talk about incorporating wellness and mindfulness and therapeutic services to our students, but a lot of times as staff members, we don’t take that initiative to help ourselves,” said Longwell. “So an event like this opens doors, and you get to learn new skills that you can implement into your everyday life.”