A new business to help teachers in the West Kootenays
By Contributor
As former teachers, Jessie Morassut and Lauren Kessler know firsthand the need for a shift within the culture of teacher well-being.
Moving away from toxic taglines like “do it for the kids” and “don’t smile until December”, and unclear expectations that can exist in work hours, these two are now stepping up to create and facilitate an opportunity for healthy change for West Kootenay teachers.
The Renewal Year is a year-long program for teachers to restore, receive and reconnect. The program includes monthly in-person sessions, integration calls, a community group, a guidebook including additional resources, plus a closing overnight retreat.
“It’s exactly what we both wish that we had when we were still in the classroom,” Lauren shares. “To feel connected in community, rather than isolated in our own day-to-day challenges”.
Their vision is for wellness to be woven into the fabric of a teacher’s day, rather than a one-off class or reactive support that only addresses challenges once someone is already struggling.
Having both left the profession due to burnout and unbalanced expectations, they are now pioneering a standard for teacher well-being – one that supports the teacher as a human first with wellness at the forefront.
“I recall a culture that was very steeped in performance, perfectionism, and escapism,“ Jessie notes. “Lauren and I want boundaries, nourishing self-connection and practical nervous system tools to be at the forefront of a teacher’s reality, rather than a mere afterthought at the end of a long day. Part of that involves supportive spaces that foster that shift, which is what we intend to offer with The Renewal Year”.
The facilitators state that the key problem they see teachers face is that exhaustion and overworking has become normalized, with teachers unclear on how to prioritize or honour their own needs.
Lauren and Jessie have 10 spaces available for this year-long support. They want to remind teachers of the extensive investment of their time, energy and money that goes into their classrooms and surface-level stress relievers, and want to encourage teachers to take some time while the summer’s still here to do something different about how they invest in their personal wellness for the upcoming year.
You can learn more about The Renewal Year at wildthingsforest.com/therenewalyear or by contacting Jessie and Lauren at: therenewalyear@gmail.com.
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