This year, Principal Danielle Henson at Hilton Elementary is helping her staff to take better care of themselves. The year began with yoga and guided mindfulness sessions for school staff, facilitated by PSC coaches from the Black Male Yoga Initiative. The PSC has worked with Hilton to incorporate self-care practices into their collaborative planning sessions and school-wide professional expectations. In December, staff training reflected on the causes of burn-out, guided by three key questions:
- What are the relationships I am mediating?
- Do I have the resources and time to accomplish what I was hired to do?
- Do I feel supported by my organization and believe in the work that it is doing?
Staff then took the time to create a plan for how they were going to care for themselves physically, intellectually, and emotionally as well as how they were going to overcome barriers to these goals.
Other things that are happening at Hilton Elementary include their reduction in suspensions from thirteen (2017-2018) to zero (2018-2019). During their first year as a part of the PSC, Hilton focused on Social Emotional Learning and Restorative Practices. Through coaching and professional development for staff, these strategies were used throughout the entire school community including students, staff, and others. They have even implemented Restorative Circles with family and community members!
