Program Communication: Eldridge

Mindfulness for Costello Staff

Over the last few years the stress level of staff in our building at Costello has increased.

Classroom teachers are often heard saying, “my prep time is not long enough to understand and

plan for all these new units of study.” Our district moved to a new writing program three years

ago, a new reading program two years ago, and we will have a new science program in the fall.

We are all feeling overwhelmed. Unfortunately, not only are we suffering from the increasing

stress, but our students also suffer. If staff is overwhelmed, and unable to plan accordingly for

lessons then students do not receive the education they deserve. Teachers experience burn-out

and may not act appropriately toward student behavior. The amount of our workload will not

decrease, it will only increase, and we will continue to experience changes year after year.

Classroom teachers need to utilize a mindfulness practice as a way to cope with these stresses.

While classroom teachers spend the most time with students, there are many adults in our

building who also spend significant time with students. These non-classroom adults often spend

time with students when they are having a challenging moment which can cause additional stress

for the adults involved.

To help these important adults be successful while working with students, they too should

be trained in mindfulness alongside the classroom teachers. Not only will we build a mindful

community of adults who will help support each other but we will be mentally available for

students who need us the most.

There will certainly be members of the building staff that are skeptical or even against the

idea of practicing mindfulness. In anticipation of staff feeling that this is “just one more thing to

add to our plates,” I would want to bring an expert in to introduce the basics of mindfulness and

the benefits of practicing mindfulness. It may take some time for “all staff to buy in.” To help
Program Communication: Eldridge

staff rally around practicing mindfulness, I would have a core group of staff members who are

already practicing mindfulness to share their experiences and to talk about their practice often

within the first year. Utilizing social media to share with our Costello community will also help

to encourage more staff buy-ins, and eventually families as well.

The big picture I have for Costello is to have: the majority of the staff practicing

mindfulness, staff meetings and professional developments will include brief mindfulness

practices, classroom teachers will incorporate mindfulness practice in the classroom with

students, and to educate and include the community in mindfulness practices.

Program Communication: Eldridge

Mindfulness Implementation Timetable:

When Description

Fall 2019 Have an expert at our opening

day PD to define, explain
benefits, and begin to practice
mindfulness

2019-2020 School Year Encourage all staff to practice

mindfulness.

November 2019 Reflect/share mindfulness

experience/journey with
whole staff.

February 2020 Reflect/share mindfulness

experience/journey with
whole staff.

May/June 2020 Reflect/share mindfulness

experience/journey with
whole staff. Decide how to
include mindfulness in the
classroom, educate students
and families.

Fall 2020 Educate families on

mindfulness.

2020-2021 School Year Mindfulness is practiced in

classrooms regularly, and
staff regularly practices
mindfulness together.
Program Communication: Eldridge

Staff, Would you like to:

1. Find Balance in your life?
2. Relieve stress at work?
3. Build stronger relationships with co-
workers and students?
4. Experience mental clarity?

Then Mindfulness Practice is for you!

We will have an expert at our Opening Day staff meeting for

the 2019-2020 school year to teach you WHAT mindfulness is,
how it can BENEFIT us a school community, and HOW to
practice mindfulness.