The UNC-Wilmington Watson College of Education staff began a resilience and wellness initiative with SCS beginning teachers this fall. The focus on wellness and resilience supports beginning teachers in how to manage stress and self-care as new teachers in the classroom. According to regional health research, and an identified problem of practice, data shows declining teacher wellness and resilience complicated by the impacts of devastating hurricanes and the long-term implications of a worldwide pandemic.
In partnership and collaboration with Sampson County Schools and RADical Health, Watson Wellness empowers beginning teachers with skills to build resilience and strengthen connection and community among peers and initiates the design of a resilience/wellness coaching continuum to support beginning teachers.
The collaborative works to identify the key stressors and challenges faced by beginning teachers, understand their implications on well-being, and develop effective strategies and interventions to enhance teacher wellness and resilience.
In May, 2024, the SCS Board approved an MOU with UNC-W New Teacher Support Program to implement the Watson Wellness initiative for the 2024-25 school year. Beginning teachers meet monthly in a group setting participating in focused session topics such as active listening, emotional intelligence, stress management, and how to create positive outcomes through informed decision making. Participants in the program use the book, “Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators” by Elena Aguilar as a guiding resource.
Watson Wellness is facilitated by UNC-W staff members Somer Lewis, professional development system director, Jodi Hebert, new teacher support program instructional coach, Dr. Denise Ousley, faculty member, Dr. Lynn Sikma, faculty member, and Lori Best, NCBTSP instructional coach, along with Brenda Nordin, Sampson County Schools director of teacher support.