The start of the school year brings both excitement and challenges for educators as they welcome new students, establish routines, and set goals. To support teachers in managing stress and focusing on self-care, Janet Damon, 2025 Colorado Teacher of the Year and member of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA), launched a wellness series with an initial session centered on mindfulness.
The session encouraged educators to reflect on their experiences by asking themselves questions such as what feels joyful in their work, what challenges they are facing, and where they find strength. According to Damon, these moments of reflection serve as a form of self-care that is essential for teachers’ well-being.
Damon emphasized the link between balance and productivity during her talk. She said, “We cannot be productive when we are starving, or when we haven’t had a moment to transition, to breathe, to collect ourselves. Our most productive self lies on the other side of balance.”
As participants discussed their experiences, many acknowledged that teachers often feel pressured to go above and beyond without taking time for themselves. Damon addressed this tendency: “The more that we do the work, the more we also have to give ourselves time to recover from the work. That’s the part everyone misses, there is no recovery time built into the school day.”
She also discussed boundaries as essential tools for maintaining wellness rather than barriers. Damon stated that setting healthy boundaries helps students see positive examples of self-care among adults. She explained further: “In times of stress, we have to deepen our commitment to self-care. The highest stress has to be met with the highest care.”
Throughout the session, participants learned about practices such as breathing exercises and yoga that can help manage daily pressures in education. Damon plans to continue guiding educators through additional wellness techniques in future sessions.
The focus remains clear: prioritizing personal well-being supports sustainability in teaching careers by helping educators maintain energy and resilience throughout the academic year.
