Paper Blog | Apr '21 #Suptchat Recap: Stress Mgmt in School Leadership

Written by Paper | April 8, 2021

In case you missed last night's #suptchat, the Paper team is here to provide you with a comprehensive recap.

Superintendents Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak facilitated this month's conversation between school leaders about stress management in school leadership.

Make sure to sign up for our new discussion series, featuring K-12 leaders as they unpack the cost, infrastructure, and equity implications of building an all-encompassing culture of 1:1 at their district. The series kicks off on April 14!

Q1: How can you tell when you are becoming stressed out at work?

Awareness is key to mitigating the impacts stress—and these educators know it.

A1 - I can tell when my blood pressure and heart rate are out of whack. It also affects my sleep significantly! #suptchat pic.twitter.com/u4LqI6Skno
— jgreenmc (@JGreenmc) April 8, 2021

A1: I get "hangry", impatient, and unfocused and can feel overwhelmed. #suptchat
— 𝓓𝓻. 𝓛𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓼𝓮𝔂 𝓗𝓪𝓵𝓵 (@MS_Supt) April 8, 2021

A1: I know I am stressed when I start becoming frustrated with people over trivial things. I try to step away before my frustration shows, but if I don't, I always go back and apologize. Apologies go a long way. #suptchat
— Susan Enfield (@SuptEnfield) April 8, 2021

#suptchat A1: I can tell I'm getting stressed when I start to play or run my fingers through my hair! pic.twitter.com/HuBwHAT4CH
— Todd Dugan (@tdugan75) April 8, 2021

Q2: When you are feeling stressed during the day, what strategies do you use to manage it?

Participants shared some great tips on managing their stress.

A2: To relieve my stress, I remind myself to breathe & exhale, I might put on some classical music, pour some lavender into my infuser, & organize my to do list in the order of importance. If I can get one thing done, then I know I am overcoming the stress step by step! #suptchat pic.twitter.com/1NXTrWn6ZH
— Mariana Nicasio (@mariana_nicasio) April 8, 2021

A2: I try to get into as many classrooms as possible and have conversations with students. It helps me to refocus on the why! #suptchat pic.twitter.com/fkiwQpEMnH
— Chad Prosen (@drprosen) April 8, 2021

A2: Ask myself the "rule of 2 ?'s" Will this issue matter 2 minutes, 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years from now? Depending on the answer let's me know how big of a deal the issue really is. Talk a walk, visit some classes. #suptchat
— Dan_Cox (@Dan_Cox) April 8, 2021

Q3: What do you do outside of work as a stress reliever?

We saw some we could relate to...

A3: I read (often), golf (infrequently), watch my daughters Tik Tok videos (too often, I'm afraid). #suptchat
— Jon Bartelt (@jonbartelt) April 8, 2021

A3 - Time with my children (without our phones), time reading, listening to books or podcasts, and long walks also help outside of work with stress levels. #suptchat
— Dr. Lisa Leali (she, her, hers) (@LisaLeali) April 8, 2021

A3: I've really been working on personal fitness. Eating better and regulary working otu at @orangetheory. Finding challenges outside of comfort zone w/ some supt accountability partners: @ozark6662, @jgarrison203 and I signed up for a @ToughMudder! #suptchat
— Dan_Cox (@Dan_Cox) April 8, 2021

Some "unusual" ones...

A3: My stress reliever often involves working with cattle (I know...perhaps unusual among superintendents) #suptchat
— Supt Janssen (@SuptJanssen) April 8, 2021

And some conflicting views on grocery shopping!

I hate grocery shopping! #suptchat
— Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney (@drgoffney) April 8, 2021

Q4: What strategies and/or programs does your district have to help staff members manage work-related stress?

#Suptchat participants shared some amazing staff wellness activities and programs.

A4: Book clubs, access to gym equipment, indoor walking track before and after school, dedicating at least one early release to staff generated non educational learning opportunities. #suptchat
— Jon Bartelt (@jonbartelt) April 8, 2021

A4: One of the great examples of stress management at Leyden are the Mindfulness sessions that our teacher @ProfCurley has run for the faculty and staff. Thanks Michele!! #suptchat
— Nick Polyak (@npolyak) April 8, 2021

A4: Some strategies and/or programs our district has to help staff members manage work-related stress include EAP, Optimistic Household staff/families, Happiness Advantage all staff institute, culture committees, culture assessments #suptchat
— Michael Lubelfeld (@mikelubelfeld) April 8, 2021

Q5: How does your district help students reduce the stress in their lives?

Leaders shared some ways they're thinking about the current and the coming school years.

A5: Next year, we are implementing a new schedule with longer lunch periods to slow down kids' days a bit. We are also adding a 4-year looping advisory period so that every students has a trusted adult with them through all of high school. #suptchat
— Nick Polyak (@npolyak) April 8, 2021

A5: We have recently been having some really good discussions w/ students about how our schools/classrooms can grow to become even more safe, open and accepting for all. #suptchat
— Dan_Cox (@Dan_Cox) April 8, 2021

A5:We conduct morning meetings everyday to check in with students. Throughout the day, staff will use the zones of regulation to provide students with calm classrooms & strategies to relieve stress & identify emotions. We also have a Mindfulness Monday focus every week. #suptchat pic.twitter.com/F221bpYugz
— Mariana Nicasio (@mariana_nicasio) April 8, 2021

A5: We discuss the importance of balance as one of our @8KeysExcellence from @qleducation with our students. #suptchat pic.twitter.com/KDhRQsbccm
— Chad Prosen (@drprosen) April 8, 2021

Q6: What would you change about the education profession to make it less stressful?

Participants replied not just what would make things better for them, but for their communities at large. This is why educators continue to be the most inspiring, dedicated professionals out there!

A6 #suptchat I would change 150 year old mentality to reflect modern times. I would create modernized learning environments that look like work not prisons, I would fund schools better. I would reform limiting regulations or provisions that are archaic ... & more!
— Michael Lubelfeld (@mikelubelfeld) April 8, 2021

A6: the role of the board continues to be advocates for student learning and improving students lives. Making sure communication about the school takes place in a constructive way is important. Making sure we hear what citizens say continues to be important as ever! #suptchat
— Ry Heavner (@Heavner7) April 8, 2021

A6: Help those outside the profession understand the work. We need to find a way to articulate how deep, complex and difficult teaching is when people do it well. This lack of understanding is why teaching is such an undervalued profession. #suptchat
— MrJoeMcCauley (@CauleyMr) April 8, 2021

Q7: Researchers say that some amount of stress is a good thing for us - how do you find that balance?

Toeing the line between good and bad stress can be hard. Get it right with these tips from the participants:

A7 - Building trusting and supportive teams within our organizations, where professionals can be authentic with each other and support each other is one way we try to balance the stressful times we have faced together this year. #suptchat
— Dr. Lisa Leali (she, her, hers) (@LisaLeali) April 8, 2021

A7: This q reminds me of good debt. Both can lead to wonderful opportunities and pathways, but taking either on too quickly or to the point it becomes unmanageable is unhealthy! #suptchat pic.twitter.com/4sgUV9xKfo
— Chad Prosen (@drprosen) April 8, 2021

A7. Balance is different for everyone. You have to find what keeps you thriving professionally yet provides you ample time for yourself (go for a walk, ride a bike, read, fish etc) give yourself time to refresh #suptchat
— Shane Hotchkiss (@shane_hotchkiss) April 8, 2021

A7: I find balance by starting my day a specific way grounded in time with/for myself. (exercise, meditation, think time w/☕️ & sauna) I need some time to recharge on weekends & appreciate having a trip to look forward to. #suptchat
— Jill Griffin (@superjillgriff) April 8, 2021

Q8: Someday, we'll all retire from these roles - what is something non stressful that you look forward to about that future time?

A great question to conclude this month's #suptchat.

A8: This. #suptchat pic.twitter.com/VtEfg41X90
— Jon Bartelt (@jonbartelt) April 8, 2021

Q8: #suptchat

When I retire, I would love to volunteer and provide pro-bono talks about life, wisdom, and productivity for the elderly.

Los viejitos need tons of love! pic.twitter.com/ff30Xg6UVM
— Dr. Efraín Martínez (@EMartinezEdD) April 8, 2021

Finally, some concluding remarks from the moderators:

@npolyak and I will show up at #suptchat as long as you show up :) thank you so much for leading, learning, connecting, and sharing wisdom! Archives will be posted soon - see you next month and Thank you!
— Michael Lubelfeld (@mikelubelfeld) April 8, 2021

Thanks for joining us on #suptchat this month! Upcoming dates: May 5, June 2, No Chat in July. Mark your calendars!!
— Nick Polyak (@npolyak) April 8, 2021

Make sure to sign up for our new discussion series featuring district administrators as they unpack the cost, infrastructure, and equity implications of 1:1. Register now!

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