Be Well

“At the end of the day, all you need is hope and strength. Hope that it will get better, and strength to hold on until it does” ~ Anonymous

Fall has arrived along with some refreshing cooler weather. October also marks almost 8 months of operating in completely new ways in our personal and professional lives. I realize that navigating these uncharted territories day in and day out is not easy. Keeping a positive attitude and seeing the best in difficult situations can be a challenge. Your hard work, grit and dedication is truly appreciated.

Through all these months, I believe that hope and strength have been essential elements of “Being Well”. I encourage everyone to continue reflecting on something that makes you feel hopeful each day. Set aside time for daily routines that keep your mind and body strong and healthy. Please continue to be a source of hope and strength for your colleagues and the families you connect with. Together, we can do this.

#BeWellNorthside

Be a Catalyst for Change.

How can we, as a community of educators, respond to the events of 2020? Across the US, we are undergoing incredibly powerful and much needed systemic changes related to social and racial justice in our schools. Each of us have a unique opportunity to create classrooms, campuses, and communities that are both liberating and equitable.

How Can You Be a Catalyst For Change?

Read. Challenge yourself to read articles and stories about real champions of change who drive policies and environments for equity in families, schools and communities! One great resource is Salud America! .

Teach the idea of being an upstander: a person who speaks or acts in support of an individual or cause, particularly someone who intervenes on behalf of a person that is bullied, marginalized or discriminated against. We can begin by focusing on our Northside community and broadening our academic content to include more diversity and anti-racism.

Advocate. Did you know San Antonio is now one of 131 cities, counties, state legislatures, and other governmental leaders that have declared racism a public health crisis, as of Sept. 11, 2020? Now is a time in history when things that have always been are changing rapidly. People are looking at teachers through new eyes and with new appreciation. Use this opportunity to advocate for public education, take the time to vote, and find ways to make our schools inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

Together, we can make real change, enduring change, happen one step at a time.

Keep Going.

Research shows that a crisis doesn't just cause stress and suffering. A crisis can motivate us to help others, find a new purposeful direction and makes us re-frame ideas. We pivot from how it's always been done and we move to new ideas to meet our current needs; we grow. Otherwise, the effects of having empty classrooms, quiet hallways and forlorn football fields, can lead to anxiety and feelings of loneliness. These are issues that many of us face and can have serious long term consequences for our well-being. Addressing these feelings takes some intentional effort; that's exactly what we must do. This is how we keep growing.

Here are some practical actions you can take:

• Cultivate a connection mindset. We need a connection with others in order to feel safe. Make up your mind that you’re going to be purposeful and find ways to connect with others, even if the situation is not ideal and especially if it is not easy.
• Maintain an optimistic mindset. Your mindset needs to be of your own making. It’s a choice and it can have a significant impact on what we believe, how we see things and our behavior. If we focus on the negative, we will see more negativity. Having a positive attitude does not negate the difficulties we are experiencing but it does shine a light on the things we can be grateful for.
• Have a servant mindset. Reaching out to help others in need can boost chemicals that produce positive emotions. Anything you can do to help others meet their needs, especially their need for connection also helps you.
• Reach out for help. If you find yourself having persistently disturbing or negative thoughts, feeling hopeless, or simply not bouncing back to your usual self after trying these or other techniques, then seek professional help. NISD's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is provided by The Hartford. This service is FREE and confidential. They can be reached at 1-800-96-HELPS (1-800-964-3577) or get more information at https://nisd.net/employees/department/human-resources/documents/employee-assistance-program.

Headspace for Educators

Headspace is a leader in mindfulness and mediation through its app and online offerings. They provide unique, easy to use tools that can be geared to individual needs and are accessible 24 hrs a day. Headspace offers live, real time meditations as well as personalized mindful moments. They're currently offering a free subscription to k-12 educators.

Your free subscription includes access to:

• Hundreds of guided meditations on everything from stress and focus to the workplace.
• Sleepcasts, sleep sounds, and sleep music to help create the conditions for a better night’s rest.
• Inspiring videos, quick workouts, group meditations, and much more.