March - 2021

Addressing Inequities in Education: Considerations for American Indian and Alaska Native Children an

Mar 30, 2021
4 min

Addressing Inequities in Education: Considerations for American Indian and Alaska Native Children an

By Melody Mann, CEI Intern The effects of historical trauma within the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities continues to rise (Tsethlikai et al., 2020). With the COVID-19 outbreak surging globally, the AIAN communities are heavily impacted not only by their community’s past pain, but the uncertainty of the present as well. The United States of America (USA) federally recognizes 574 tribes. AIAN individuals represent 1.7% of the population in the USA, with thei

Using Mindfulness Techniques to Bolster Mental Health in Schools

Jenna Wyman

Mar 23, 2021
4 min

Using Mindfulness Techniques to Bolster Mental Health in Schools

By Jenna Wyman, CEI Intern With one in five children in the United States likely to be diagnosed with a mental health or learning disorder, it is critical to find feasible and effective solutions to provide aid throughout their education and development (Vanderburg et al., 2020). However, there is a chronic lack of treatment and support for these youth. The universal implementation of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may provide the needed solution to support children a

Cultivating Mindful Self-Care to Bolster Confidence

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 19, 2021
7 min

Cultivating Mindful Self-Care to Bolster Confidence

By Kahlil Kuykendall, Gender Economist and Mindfulness Self-Care Instructor Our HeartMind e-News connects the relationship of heart centered learning and mindfulness to current research and circumstances. Our goal is to provide our readers with concrete opportunities to further implementation of heart centered practices in their schools and districts. These opportunities will include suggestions for reflection, journaling, dialoguing, and compassionate classroom activities. T

Compassion Fatigue: What Is It and What Can We Do About It?

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 12, 2021
5 min

Compassion Fatigue: What Is It and What Can We Do About It?

By Jackson Sims, CEI Intern The role of an educator is far from static. On any given day, an educator can take on a number of duties, ranging from teaching in the classroom to having a private conversation with a student or their family. Regardless of these small differences, there is one common thread: Compassion. Educators are often characterized by kindness, patience, and a commitment to the growth and well-being of their students. The level of emotional investment require

Cultivating Connections as a Powerful Buffer Against Compassion Fatigue

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 12, 2021
4 min

Cultivating Connections as a Powerful Buffer Against Compassion Fatigue

By Jennie Liang, CEI Intern Protection against compassion fatigue and burnout starts with self-awareness. This is a powerful tool to help you notice your interactions with others, emotions, and reactions to stressful situations that arise. Becoming aware of levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue will allow you to more readily seek out additional support when needed. Fostering connection in different areas of your life is key to building resiliency to protect agains

Compassionate Conversations: Fostering Connection Through Community Building

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 12, 2021
4 min

Compassionate Conversations: Fostering Connection Through Community Building

By Dana Asby, CEI Director of Innovation & Research Support The logistical and emotional hoops that COVID-19 has forced us to jump through have left educators and families exhausted. As the U.S. rolls out vaccines, more and more schools are opening up, with many forced to close back down after a coronavirus outbreak. Administrators are acting as principal and substitute teacher. Teachers are juggling online and in-person classes, often simultaneously. Family members are playi

Featured Fellow: Combating Fatigue and Burnout with Ali Sumski, Bridge Program Support Specialist

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 12, 2021
4 min

Featured Fellow: Combating Fatigue and Burnout with Ali Sumski, Bridge Program Support Specialist

By Aparajitha Suresh, CEI Intern Having worked as a mental health provider for over three years, Ali Sumski is no stranger to finding compassion amidst burnout and fatigue. Sumski works at Methuen High School, a public high school located in a gateway city. Here, the student body features a higher than average percentage of students who have experienced trauma, housing insecurity, abuse, and/or neglect at home, resulting in a heavy and mentally taxing workload for school coun

How Two Schools in India Are Overcoming the Challenges of the Pandemic

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 8, 2021
4 min

How Two Schools in India Are Overcoming the Challenges of the Pandemic

By Zenisha Shah, CEI Writer and Counselor at Innisfree House School What might have been the response if you asked a student or teacher a year ago if they imagined having all their classes, interaction with classmates, and school events online? They would probably have been surprised or confused by the idea. Today, online school is reality for a huge population of students all over the world. Schools and the education sector have been dynamic for a very long time. They are fa

What Can Teachers Do to Become Anti-Racist Educators?

Center for Educational Improvement

Mar 3, 2021
4 min

What Can Teachers Do to Become Anti-Racist Educators?

By Melody Mann, CEI Intern Note: This blog is part 4 of a series on supporting Black students in schools. Part 1 covered what bias looks like towards Black girls in schools can be found here. Part 2 brought to light what changes can be made on a school-wide level and can be found here. Part 3 brought awareness to implementing empathetic disciplinary intervention can be found here. Racism runs deep in American history (Love, 2020). In order to make a change in the dominant nar