Episode 1: Adult Well-Being and Creating a Culture of Care
In recent years, educators have faced unprecedented upheaval and stress. While ensuring student well-being, self-care often becomes less of a priority. However, self-care is critical for educators.
In this episode, Dr. Christina Pate, Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, and host Danny Torres share a rich discussion about the importance of educator self-care for improved well-being and better student outcomes. Dr. Pate is also Director of Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (SSLE) services at WestEd.
As a leading voice in the field, Dr. Pate works to foster adult well-being, promotes trauma-informed practice and resilience, and improves cross-sector collaboration in ways that help improve outcomes for individuals and systems.
“We don’t have to be in perfect condition to be helpful,” Dr. Pate says, “but we certainly can’t be in a debilitating condition or under so much stress that we can’t really show up for other people…. To be helpful to others, we have to be helping ourselves first.”
Dr. Pate describes her personal experience of burnout and offers a framework for addressing educator well-being. Find out why self-care doesn’t mean spa days, learn practical strategies to support well-being, and much more.
Learn more about WestEd’s Safe and Supportive Learning Environments services.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Listen to more Leading Voices Podcast episodes.
Featured Guests
Dr. Christina Pate (she/her) serves as the Deputy Director of the Center to Improve Social & Emotional Learning and School Safety. She is also Director of WestEd’s Safe and Supportive Learning Environments body of work.
Resource Details
Format: Podcast
Minutes: 41
Publisher: WestEd
Related Resources
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Self-Care Strategies for Educators During the Coronavirus Crisis: Supporting Personal Social and Emotional Well-Being
Addressed to educators who face the stresses of the pandemic and the resulting school closures and online service provision, this brief offers practical information and guidance on self-care.
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Why YOUR Wellness Matters: The Intersections of Leaders' Mental Health, Systems Change, and Equity
In this archived professional learning session hosted by the COVID Education Equity Response Collaborative’s Equity Accelerator, presenters shared ideas and strategies customized for California County Office of Education (COE) leaders to help them prioritize their personal mental health while also working toward equity for students, educators, and families.
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Leading Voices: Creating Safe and Supportive Learning Environments – Dr. Christina Pate in Conversation with State and District Leaders
This recorded session features Dr. Christina Pate, Director of Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (SSLE) services at WestEd and Jenny Betz, Senior Program Associate at WestEd, in conversation with Regina Timms, Program Manager for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments at the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED), and Dr. Rose Prejean-Harris, Director of Social and Emotional Learning in Atlanta Public Schools (APS).
Related Services
- Safe and Supportive Learning Environments
WestEd's Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (SSLE) services support your school, district, or state to develop the knowledge and build the capacity needed to foster equitable learning conditions during everyday instruction and throughout school communities.