The Need for School Employee Wellness Programs

The stress our school employees face isn’t just a problem, it’s an epidemic that is costing our educators, kids and schools.

Educators and other school staff consistently report high levels of occupational stress, and they face mental health and chronic health issues due to it, leading to burnout and despair. Some teachers are choosing to leave the profession altogether, which has a trickle-down effect on students and school budgets. 

According to Pennsylvania State University, 46% of teachers report high daily stress, which compromises their health, sleep, quality of life and teaching performance. When teachers are highly stressed, students show lower levels of both social adjustment and academic performance. School districts can no longer afford to neglect teacher well-being; it is their obligation to protect the very education progress schools seek. Researcher Richard Ingersoll tells us that teacher turnover costs as much as $2.2 billion a year, money that could be used on curriculum and instruction. 

Lack of support and lack of tools to help manage stress in school is one of the biggest reasons educators cite stress.

While factors of classrooms, budgets and student population are all variables, school staff wellness can be a constant commitment of support.

The Rooted School: Employee Wellness Program Can Help.

We teach school employees how their brains work. When you know how your brain works, you can use it to your advantage when it comes to dealing with stress and everyday obstacles. We focus on using mindful self-awareness to change habits and behaviors that do not serve, as well as educator stress management, resilience building and overall mental well-being.

We’re different than other employee wellness programs. This is not your average employee wellness plan. We’re not going to ask your staff to step on a scale or end with a 5K (however, we’d totally support that 5K!) This is brain-based, habit changing, self-awareness, self-care program that will create lasting change.

We help school employees grow in mindful skills that can change a school’s culture. Weaving techniques that decrease stress and feelings of overwhelm into the workday allows employees to feel the effects of mindful practice immediately. The ripple effects are passed down to students, families and the entire school culture.

What Your School Will Get

  • Customizable Employee Wellness Program: The Rooted School: Employee Wellness Program is a 12-module program that can be personalized to your district's wellness goals and time frame. Use it as a 12-week program, a full school year program or break it into mini sessions to be spread out throughout the year.

    A few examples of our modules are: Decreasing Stress with Mindful Awareness, Gratitude Boosts Mental and Physical Well-Being, Streamlining and Simplifying for Increased Focus.

  • Digital Program: Because our product is digital, getting started is simple and moves quickly. Giving your participants access to this program is as simple as logging in on any device - from laptop to tablet to phone.

  • Simple Online Sign-up for Participants: Put the clipboard away! We’ll provide a simple, personalized web page for your participants to register on.

  • Comprehensive Leader Training: Whether you have a wellness committee or an individual who will take on the role of leading your employee wellness program, we’ve compiled everything one would need to know to confidently and successfully lead this program, including a focus on data collection.

  • One-On-One Planning Meeting: We’ll gladly meet with your leader/wellness committee over zoom or phone where we can go through the leader packet, talk about your district needs, plan together and leave your leader feeling confident and ready to go.

  • Continued Support: We’re available all throughout your employee wellness program timeline should questions or comments arise.

  • Leader Dashboard and Completion Certificates: Wellness leaders can log in to monitor the progress of their team. Each person also gets a digital certificate upon completion which can be shared or downloaded and printed.

  • Optional Workshops: In-person or online workshops, taught by Erin Sadler are a great way to invest deeper in the mindful well-being of your staff. Some schools do a series of online workshops and others invite Erin to come to talk to school staff and/or the community for deeper involvement.

Get Your School Started

Wellness apps can be great tools, but only if someone teaches you how to use them in a way that works for your brain. Our brains are wired to connect, in fact, a connection is a core of human brain development. Let’s connect and get your team connected to bring true wellness to your school.

How to Fund

Through our Wellness Match Initiative, we are committed to donating employee wellness programming to schools around the world. Our business partners make this initiative possible through ‘buy-one-gift-one’ wellness matches and donations, impacting both staff and students. If you’d like to learn more about getting wellness programming for your school faculty or staff, email us.


WE’RE PROUD TO HAVE SERVED