Encouragement

“Flatter me and I may not believe?you;

Criticize me and I may dislike you;

Encourage me and I will never forget you.”

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As we end this week, I want to draw your attention to an essential truth that lies at the heart of our work: "Encouragement?feeds the spirit and encourages the heart." This powerful statement holds particular significance as we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

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Amidst the demands of our roles, particularly during the last few days of school, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of our students and ourselves.?Encouragement?serves as a vital tool in nurturing the spirit, promoting resilience, and fostering a positive learning environment.??Each day, we have the opportunity to uplift and inspire our students through our words and actions. A kind word, a genuine compliment, or a gesture of support can have a profound impact on their well-being. By continuing to foster an atmosphere of?encouragement, we can help students develop a sense of belonging, purpose, and confidence in the classroom, field of play, on the stage, and outside of their school hours.

It is equally important that we extend the same level of encouragement to each another. The work of teaching, serving, and leading in the Pre-K -12 arena can be demanding, and we face challenges that can impact our own mental health. By showing empathy, compassion, and support to our peers and colleagues, we create a community that uplifts and strengthens each other.

This month, we have the opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and destigmatize the conversations surrounding it. Let us be advocates for positive mental health practices. Remember that you are an essential part of our educational family, and your well-being matters.??Together, let us embrace the power of?encouragement?to feed our spirits and nourish our hearts. By creating a culture of support and care, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our students and colleagues.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment to the well-being of students everywhere and each other. Your efforts are invaluable, and I am truly grateful for the positive impact you make every day.

Encouragement Feeds the Spirit!

The story is told of the middle school teacher who had less than 20 days remaining in the school year and she was exhausted, ready for a much needed break, and contemplated how she should teach the math lesson that she had planned for her class of 25 students.?Two minutes into the lesson, she closed her plan and asked every student to take out a blank sheet of paper.?She then had them create two columns, after which she had them write the names of every classmate in the left column, and at least one nice thing about that classmate in the right column next to their names.?Some students wrote as many as 20 nice things about some of their classmates (imagine this in a middle school class).?After about 30 minutes of free writing, she made copies of each sheet and distributed them to every student.?The students were all in smiles as they read the wonderful things that their peers had said about them.

Fast forward to several years later, one of those classmates who enlisted and served in the army was killed in combat.?At the funeral, his mother approached what she called her son’s favorite teacher and unfolded the piece of paper that she said he always kept in his battle dress or army combat uniform.?It was the note with the?nice and encouraging?things that his classmates had written about him several years ago.?At that moment, every classmate attending the funeral also reached into their purses and pockets and took their notes out and began to share.

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Please know that while I may fall short in my attempts to meet your every need every day, I will always offer words of encouragement. I am encouraged by your commitment and dedication, and am inspired to always SEE, HEAR and SUPPORT every student knocking on the doors each day wherever I am serving and leading.

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Have an awesome upcoming week as you teach and lead with EMPATHY!?

#mentalhealthawarenessmonth #empatheticleadership #leadershipselfcare