Teacher Wellbeing is Student Wellbeing

Our Vision

Wellbeing is not a “thing” but a set of skills that can be learned and cultivated over time, just like learning a musical instrument or riding a bike. - Center for Healthy Minds

Classmate and Aitken Leadership Group are on a mission to help educators cultivate the skills necessary to thrive in work and in life. Through finely curated learning experiences and ongoing support, we provide educators with an opportunity to refine the practices necessary for long term health and well-being so that they can model resilience for the next generation. Our vision is to create a world where teachers and school leaders feel more resourced, less stressed and supported as part of a greater community.

Why is this important?

We believe Teachers and School Leaders have a tremendous impact on the world at large. By guiding the youngest of citizens into mature compassionate adults, they influence our present while inspiring the future. There is no greater vocation than this.

Yet, the statistics are alarming. Insurance claims for mental health support and sick leave are on the rise. Due to ever increasing stress, teachers are leaving the profession in droves. And who could blame them? They are overworked, exhausted, and underappreciated, lacking the crucial support and professional development to thrive in their roles.

Student success and well-being is directly linked to that of the adults they spend their time with. Something needs to shift. We need new ways of relating – to ourselves, to one another, to our institutions, and our society. Our well-being – both individual and collective – is at stake.

What are we doing about it?

Inspired by the Compassionate Systems Leadership prong of British Columbia’s Mental Health Strategy for schools, The Field offers learning experiences with a focus on developing personal mastery. Personal mastery, coined by Peter Senge in the Fifth Discipline, is a state of perpetual curiosity, learning, growth and reflection. It is a practice, not a destination.

The personal mastery content we offer aligns with the First People’s Principles of Learning, where learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self and the community, requiring the exploration of one’s identity in a reflective, experiential and relational way.

While each Personal Mastery learning journey has a unique shape, we believe it has an overall direction that can be mapped on the matrix of two dualities: Self and Other, and Awareness and Action. Moving from the inner to the outer, we begin with practices of self-discovery before emerging into the external realm of interpersonal relations, in our classrooms, schools and beyond.

How are we helping?

The Field offers curated learning experiences to educators at all levels. Our main offerings are:

  • Educator Events: These curated group learning experiences are focused on building knowledge, developing new skills, mindsets and practices in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. Events will be offered to teachers through Pro-D offerings and to school leadership through district and province-wide initiatives. Sign up to get more information.
  • Leadership Coaching: The ongoing one-on-one conversations with a peer coach to offer support, insight and concrete ways to implement compassionate systems and personal mastery learnings into your work and life. For school leadership this can take the form of regular calls throughout the school year, working on individualized goals, observing staff meetings, and helping implement new approaches to systems.
  • School Partnerships: To affect sustained shifts in your school culture, a well-designed plan, ongoing support and exceptionally curated learning experiences are needed. We work with you to design and implement an offering suited to your school’s unique needs. The annual School Track cycle can begin as early as August and continue through to the end of the school year in June. Program schedule, timeline and components are customized for each participating school and can consist of an all-staff kick-off event at the beginning of the school year, a mid-year event to reflect on growth plus ongoing year-long individualized coaching support for leadership and key teachers interested in implementing personal mastery and compassionate systems approaches into day to day.

Want to get involved?

Are you a school or district leader? Click HERE to schedule a time to talk to us about:

  • Facilitating your next district level retreat
  • Upcoming public workshops & retreats for principals and vice principals
  • Ongoing coaching support to implement compassionate systems and well-being initiatives into your school
  • School Partnerships where you can bring compassionate systems approaches to your staff

Are you an educator (teacher, EA)?

  • Sign up HERE to receive information about upcoming events on Pro-D events.
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