De-stressing: Bringing Mindfulness to the School Setting

Introductions

Introductions Name Location Job Personal stress Professional stress What is your go-to coping strategy? 3 minutes to talk with someone at table, introduce self, identify a personal stress, a professional stress, and how do you cope, 5-10 minutes to go around the room and share partners info and maintain a chart of personal stress, a chart of professional stress, and a chart of coping strategies

2016 SYF Enhancement Grant: Mindfulness Workshop for Students

Simon Youth Academy at Rose Tree Media The Simon Youth Academy at Rose Tree Media serves students in grades 8-12 who are at-risk of dropping out of high school. Chronic absenteeism Credit deficiency Physical health needs Mental health needs Substance abuse history Non-traditional scheduling Population size < 40 students Regular education, IEP, 504, GIEP Online learning, small group learning, small advisor ratio Began program in 2007-2008, two full-time teachers, one part-time teacher, an interventionist, easy access to SAP Coordinator and psychologist; Teachers charged with 1. advising students to set daily/weekly goals and implement an academic plan with reasonable pacing, 2. coaching students through online GradPoint programming for four core subjects plus electives, 3. supporting students who participate in traditional high school classes, and 4. teach small groups of students to supplement the online program

Why Mindfulness Workshops? Student surveys and conversations with students and their families indicated that students experience a high level of stress inside and outside of school. Staff feedback echoed student and family feedback. Staff indicated they experience their own stress both personally and professionally. “Emotional and mental health was an area that students indicated in which they could use more support and indicates an opportunity for SYF to provide more resources to our partner school districts.”4 Surveys from 2014-2015 were goal-related surveys and students shared goals to overcome anxiety, indicated that stress/anxiety were road blocks, Staff shared at the start of my transition that was burnt out from working with a needy population and was looking for a job change, Third point from Spring 2016 Youth Truth Survey

What Do Workshops Look Like? Mental Health: Mindfulness Workshops for Students The purpose of the mindfulness workshops for students is to “develop positive coping strategies to successfully navigate through their busy lives.”5 Professionally trained practitioner from Minding Your Mind would facilitate the mindfulness workshops. Successful implementation of the workshops may result in an increased attendance rate, reportedly happier and more productive students, and stronger, more positive interpersonal relationships. The effectiveness of the mindfulness workshops would be measured through the use of student rating scales, attendance ratings, and Student Assistance Program (SAP) referral rates. Internet search to find local foundations/organizations who worked with youth and delivered mindfulness training. Looking for a long-term approach not a one-and-done workshop.

How Are Workshops Individualized? Satisfaction rating scales Key learning points Background information Students dislike taking the surveys but feedback is helpful to Ali and to our team in planning. Other

Moving Forward To-Do List Continue mindfulness workshops, completed 2 out of 10 Continue to survey students Look closely at attendance ratings Look closely at Student Assistance Program referral rates Develop plan for continuation of mindfulness workshops

Identify Stressors Facing Students and Staff Chart papers: Stressors facing students, Stressors facing staff for 3 minutes write down as many stressors that students and staff face

Stressors Facing Students Uncertainty of life post-high school Social pressures1 Social media Relationships – parents, friends, school Poverty Trauma School work issues like homework and GPA1 Assessments Expectations Appearance1 Extracurriculars1 Compare list to chart paper and elaborate

Stressors Facing Staff Managing a classroom2 Working with parents, some of whom may have had negative experiences with schools and teachers2 Lack of resources3 Diverse student needs due to cultural experiences and performance gaps3 Poor behavior from students3 Negative colleagues3 Unrealistic accountability measures from federal and local administrations3 Students who have a greater level of need and bringing home their needs… wanting to ”fix” the problems Compare list to chart paper and elaborate

Mindfulness: What is it? What are the benefits? What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness: What is it? Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to what is happening around us, moment to moment.6 “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally. It’s about knowing what is on your mind.”7 – Jon Kabat Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness: Definition

Mindfulness: Benefits From Dr. Daphne Davis and Dr. Jeffrey Hayes and published by American Psychological Association8: Reduced rumination Stress reduction Boosts to working memory Focus Less emotional reactivity More cognitive flexibility Relationship satisfaction

Mindfulness: Practice

Mindfulness: Implementation Plan

Mindfulness: Implementation Plan Visit Rose Tree Media Simon Youth Academy webpage http://www.rtmsd.org/domain/95 Click on the link: Simon Youth Foundation Conference to visit links about mindfulness and coping with stress Using the planning template List questions you would like to ask in a survey to staff and students Identify stressors in your life Background information: What is mindfulness? How do you cope with stress? Explore mindfulness foundations, videos, websites Note what you have found most useful Develop a timeline of implementing mindfulness at your academy Develop a reflection tool to measure your implementation plan’s success See planning template

Thoughts? Questions?

Works Cited

Works Cited 1Stressors facing students: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/school-stress.html# 2Stressors facing staff: https://www.apa.org/ed/schools/cpse/teacher-stress-brochure.pdf 3Stressors facing staff: http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/sf114071/chapters/Understanding-Stress.aspx 42016 SYF Enhancement Grant: Center for Effective Philanthropy. “Executive Summary.” Spring 2016 52016 SYF Enhancement Grant: http://mindingyourmind.org/what-we-do/mental-health-education-program/whos-in-charge-harnessing-your-brains-potential-2/

Works Cited “Mindfulness Programs.” www.mindingyourmind.org 6Mindfulness: What is it? “Mindfulness Programs.” www.mindingyourmind.org 7Mindfulness: What is it? http://www.mindful.org/jon-kabat-zinn-defining-mindfulness/ 8Mindfulness: Benefits http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner.aspx

Don’t forget to wear SYF orange! What’s Next? Breakout Sessions II: 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions III: 4 to 5:15 p.m. Meet in Omni Severin Lobby at 5:45 to collect tickets and meal vouchers for Pacers game. Don’t forget to wear SYF orange!