The Alberta Teachers’ Association

How a system supports staff resilience

EVERYONE HAS A ROLE in creating a healthy workplace that supports teacher and staff resilience. Personal well-being mindsets and behaviours (gratitude, mindfulness, optimism, etc.) are an important foundation for resilience; however, systemic practices and norms create conditions through which all staff can feel valued, prioritized and well. 

“Being in touch with what we do well underpins the readiness to change. [...] To enable us to hear criticism nondefensively and to act creatively on it, we need to feel secure."

­— David Cooperrider from Seligman 2012, p. 73

“USE THESE CONVERSATION STARTERS IN STAFF TEAMS TO REFLECT ON YOUR SYSTEM SUPPORTS FOR STAFF WELL-BEING.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Developing Growth Mindsets: Principles and Practices for Maximizing Students’ Potential
Donna Wilson and Marcus Conyers

The BrainSMART program presented in this book consists of seven principles for developing growth mindsets. 

Available through the ATA library.

Notes

¹Storey, K.E., Montemurro, G., Flynn, J., Schwartz, M., Wright E., Osler, J., Veugelers P. and Roberts, E. 2017. “Essential Conditions for the Implementation of Comprehensive School Health.” Health Matters, 3 no. 5. Alberta School Boards Association website, www.katestorey.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/asba-health-matters-newsletter-vol.-3-no.-5.pdf (accessed Sept. 23, 2021). The SIRCLE Lab has developed a checklist based on this research, which is available at www.katestorey.com/our-projects/essential-conditions-for-comprehensive-school-health.

²Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York: Atria Books.