Education Worker Toolkit

Like all Canadians, education workers and teachers experience mental health challenges. As part of a larger study of Canadian professional workers, 1146 education workers completed a survey to explore their experiences with mental health, leaves of absence, and return to work between November 2020 and May 2021.

Click below for the education report

A high number of education workers in our study, over 50%, reported having had a mental health issue at some point during their careers, with female teachers reporting high rates.

 

53 education workers were interviewed about their experiences. Themes such as increased workload, digital stress, the impact of leadership, social isolation and feeling disconnected were mentioned most often.

 
 

Our research team utilized survey data and interview stories to curate a list of resources to help improve education worker mental health with a focus on system, organization and team level resources.

 

Please watch our introductory video to help guide you through the resource options available.

What Interviewee’s are Saying:

 

“Nobody quits a job. They Quit a Manager”

“My interactions with health and wellness have left me feeling frustrated and feeling like I’m a number and not a person”

Taking Care of Teachers: Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub

This virtual hub includes information, tools, and resources on school staff mental health and wellbeing. Topics cover staff wellbeing, school culture, supporting teams and measuring success.

Read More

Microaggressions: staff meeting presentation and guidance

A microaggression is 'an act or a remark that discriminates against one or more members of a minority group, either deliberately or by mistake.' This training includes a PowerPoint and guidance on delivering a presentation about microaggressions to staff members.

Read More

Anti-racism policy template

Developing and implementing a school anti-racism policy can have a number of benefits including, increased recruitment and rentention of racially minoritised staff and increased self-esteem and confidence of students. This document provides guidance on how to write an anti-racism policy.

Read More

Supporting staff from racially minoritised groups

Supporting staff from diverse backgrounds involves looking at the 'hidden workload' that teachers from racially minoritised backgrounds may encounter. This document provides actionable items that schools can do to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff from racially minoritised groups.

Read More
Administrator, School Board, Toolkit, Virtual, Canada, Free Ivy Bourgeault Administrator, School Board, Toolkit, Virtual, Canada, Free Ivy Bourgeault

Toolkit for Healthy Schools Leadership

This Toolkit explores how to implement the Canadian Healthy School Standards, with a specific focus on the actions needed at a school system leadership level. It provides a pathway to follow in the form of six interconnected checklists, along with connections to additional resources.

Read More

Ohio School Wellness Initiative

The Ohio School Wellness Initiative is committed to supporting K-12 schools across the state and providing resources and guidance to promote well-being for school staff in all positions. The School Staff Wellness Manual provides assessments, planning tools, resources, and sample activities that can be incorporated throughout the school year to promote wellness for individual school staff members as well as thinking about wellness holistically for school teams.

Read More
Teaching, Administrator, Program, Worldwide, $ Fee, English Ivy Bourgeault Teaching, Administrator, Program, Worldwide, $ Fee, English Ivy Bourgeault

New Administrator Support Program

This series of professional learning opportunities is offered to newly appointed vice-principals and principals from anywhere in the world. Through discussions with experienced principals and vice-principals, facilitated learning sessions and networking opportunities participants will address challenges and recognize opportunities as they move through their first school year as administrators.

Read More

Sex and Gender Based Analysis Harassment and Bullying Toolkit

The SGBA harrassment and bullying toolkit provides common definitions and language, describes the impact of bullying and harassment on mental health and outlines promising practices to address bullying and harassment.

Read More

Addressing Racism in the K-12 Workplace

This article discusses how anti-racism is integral to staff well-being. School districts should feature acknowledgement, community partnership and leadership, accountability, disaggregated race-based data collection, transparent monitoring and reporting along with policy development and implementation.

Read More

Well at Work K-12 Leadership Course

This course with modules delivered by Canadian school district leaders and subject matter experts, this course prepares education leaders to undertake a systemic approach aimed at sustainably improving employee wellbeing which contributes to a more positive school environment for students.

Read More

Beyond the Binder: Towards More Systemic and Sustainable Approaches to Mental Health and Wellbeing in K-12 Education (Canada)

Based on a review of evidence, and emerging practices in Canada and internationally, this document presents seven recommended actions and next steps. It outlines why and how K-12 system leaders and their partners must move beyond one-off interventions, programs, and professional development towards an approach where mental health and wellbeing is integrated in the core mandate of public education. (Recommended Actions and Next Steps pp. 18- 27).

Read More