This school year, Plano ISD officials want to enhance the mental health of both students and staff.
Last week, Missy Bender, the president of the school board, discussed the mission and specific objectives for achieving it.
The School Health Advisory Committee provided assistance to the board by submitting a paper that lists the major sources of stress for both students and teachers.
They also offered suggestions for identifying and lessening stress.
We all act like parents and follow in the footsteps of our parents, Bender said. "We consider it our duty to monitor our kids' physical and emotional health in addition to their academic wellbeing.
"We're going to do everything we can to keep our pupils happy and healthy," the teacher said. "All of these things are extremely personal, highly emotional, and very essential to all of us."
Bender outlined three objectives:
Implement the stress-reduction strategies for faculty and students that were determined through committee work in 2015–16.
Determine the most effective methods for preventing suicide and suggest district action
Concussion prevention, diagnosis, and return to play best practices are identified, and desired district practice modifications are suggested.
The board was informed on the best approach to dealing with mental health by the SHAC, an entity that the state has required.
Bender said, "I think we wanted to use our board advisor committees in a way that we hadn't in a while." assisting youth in learning coping skills
We don't want to disregard the role of helping people deal with stress throughout their lives.
The SHAC board was made up of local experts such Andy McGarrahan, a private child psychologist, Jane Callahan, a guidance counselor at Shepton High School, Mark Allen, the executive director of Plano ISD's Student and Family Services, and Elizabeth Koury of Children's Health LPC.
The presentation given by SHAC at the conclusion of the previous academic year covered both positive and negative stressors and coping techniques for students and staff. They also provided suggestions that the board could consider.
According to the SHAC survey, the primary sources of stress for students include unmet sleep needs, body image issues, social media demands, and academic constraints.
Some people employ exercise, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work as stress relievers, while others develop eating disorders, abuse alcohol and drugs, bully or fight other people, and put little effort into their academic work.
Work-life balance, long hours, student behavior, and concern with regard to administrative expectations are a few stressors for educators and employees.
Peer interaction, participation in professional learning groups, and a supportive learning environment are some of their coping strategies. Burnout and inadequate job effort/attendance are other behaviors.
The trustees of the school board intend to put these suggestions into practice. The key suggestions include stress-management education, keeping an eye on staff and student workloads, and increasing awareness of already-existing initiatives and resources.
"We are influencing young people's lives, and this goes beyond academic assessment. Every child in our care, along with every staff member, is treated as a whole person, according to Bender.
Next week, board trustees will meet with each of the five subcommittees to map out a strategy for enhancing mental health across the district.
We're always looking to get better, Bender stated. "We need to be thoughtful and purposeful, and if we value these things, are we acting in ways that are consistent with those values right now?"
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