Staff Well-Being
On this page, find resources and strategies for implementing a systems-level approach to staff and employee well-being, tiered supports, and more.
Comprehensive Staff Well-Being
Adopting a comprehensive approach to emotional well-being for school employees enhances the educational environment for both staff and students. By leveraging resources and policies effectively, schools can create a supportive climate that addresses the unique needs of all staff members. This approach can:
- Reduce job-related stress
- Foster a sense of belonging
- Improve overall working conditions
- Lead to better outcomes for the entire school community
Read about how two districts, Republic School District (MO) and Seattle Public Schools (WA), are supporting staff well-being in their community.
Universal Employee Supports (Tier 1)
(NACDD) Staff Well-Being Strategy Scan
https://chronicdisease.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Staff-Well-Being-Strategy-Scan-Fillable.pdf
A reflective planning tool that helps schools and organizations assess how staff well-being is supported across strategy, systems, leadership, and implementation to strengthen workforce sustainability and school climate.
(Child Trends) A Toolkit for School Systems to Advance Comprehensive School Employee Wellness
This toolkit puts together easy-to-understand research and helpful tools. Schools can use it to make and carry out a plan that makes sure all the staff at the school are healthy and well.
(Mental Health America) Workplace Mental Health Toolkit
https://mhanational.org/workplace/toolkit
This toolkit highlights how employers and people leaders can develop or improve workplace policies that uplift workers, ensure they are valued and heard, and improve organizational well-being.
Additional Tools and Resources
(CDC) Employee Wellness Guide: This webpage provides data, strategies, and resources to support school employee well-being.
(Kaiser Permanente) School Employee Well-Being Collaboration Guide: This guide focuses on collaborating for employee well-being and includes two parts: Part one of this guide describes a labor management approach to building a school employee well-being program, and part two lays out a step-by-step process to build the collaborative elements of the program.
(Council of Chief State School Officers): Moving Beyond Self-Care: Practice and Policy Conditions to Support Educator Well-Being: This guide identifies ways State Education Agencies and other education and health leaders can amplify efforts to promote robust policies and practices that influence educator well-being.
(National Center on Safe, Supportive Learning Environments): Organizational Initiatives and Policies to Support Educator Well-Being: This guide emphasizes strategies to improve working conditions in schools to support school employees in managing job-related stress and increasing job satisfaction, ultimately improving teacher retention and well-being.
(CDC) Work@Health: The program provides training and resources to help employers create healthier work environments. Additionally, the introduction of the CDC’s Online Worksite Health ScoreCard is featured, which is a tool designed to assess employee health, plan interventions, and evaluate progress in key health areas.
Universal employee supports focus on creating a nurturing environment where educators’ well-being is prioritized and underscores the importance of mental health in creating a thriving educational ecosystem. This includes ensuring access to mental health resources, training on stress management and resilience, and fostering a culture of connectedness and support. By addressing mental health proactively, schools can enhance teacher satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, student outcomes. Designed for all staff, these are proactive and preventative measures to promote a healthy work environment and personal well-being, and could include:
- Professional Development on Stress Management: Training sessions that equip staff with strategies to manage stress and enhance resilience.
- Wellness Programs: Initiatives such as fitness classes, meditation sessions, and health screenings that encourage physical and mental health.
- Peer Support Networks: Creating spaces for staff to connect, share experiences, and offer mutual support.
Adult Social-Emotional Skills Development
Similar to social-emotional learning for students, adult SEL fosters strengthened intrapersonal competencies. It helps to ensure the educator’s cup is filled (they are caring for themselves) in order to support students and care for others. Adult SEL also fosters a climate where educators and school staff are seen as trusted, nurturing adult relationships that students can access when needed.
(Panorama Education) A Comprehensive Guide to Adult SEL
https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/comprehensive-guide-adult-sel
This resource explores the core components of adult SEL, the importance of adult SEL in supporting nurturing adult relationships, and strategies for implementation.
(Transforming Education) Empowering Educators Toolkit
https://transformingeducation.org/resources/sel-for-educators-toolkit/
This toolkit supports educators in growing their social-emotional learning skills – including mini-learning modules, resources, and more.
Stress Management and Burnout Prevention
Equipping educators with tools to manage work-related stress effectively can help prevent burnout and contribute to positive well-being. From daily practices to physical spaces and policies for supporting mental health needs, strategies for supporting school staff well-being can be integrated at all levels.
(National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments) Addressing Educator Burnout and Demoralization
https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/addressing-educator-burnout.pdf
This resource provides administrators with strategy-based actions to support the well-being of educators.
(Hanover Research) K-12 Staff Well-Being Check-In Toolkit
This free, downloadable toolkit supports administrators in better understanding the state of teacher and staff mental health, monitoring employee well-being, strengthening employees’ sense of purpose, and exploring strategies for providing support for burnout prevention.
Social Connectedness and School Climate
Similar to students, educators and school staff need access to a safe and supportive school climate where they feel valued and connected to those around them, both to feel their best and do their best work. In such environments, staff members are more likely to engage in meaningful connections, feel a sense of belonging, and access resources that support their mental and emotional well-being.
(NACDD) Staff Well-Being Connection Audit
https://chronicdisease.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NACDD-Connection-Audit.pdf
A reflective tool designed to help teams examine how connection, belonging, and collaboration are supported across structures, culture, relationships, and feedback systems within their organization.
(WestEd) Creating a Culture of Care: A Guide for Education Leaders to Develop Systems and Structures That Support Educator Well-Being
https://www.wested.org/resource/creating-a-culture-of-care/
Strategies, resources, and guidelines focused on creating a supportive and caring school environment. This comprehensive guide focuses on establishing a supportive and healthy working environment in schools and discusses the importance of integrating wellness to benefit the well-being of school employees.
(Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley) Creating High-Quality Connections at Work
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_ways_to_create_high_quality_connections_at_work
Article exploring strategies for small, impactful actions that can deepen workplace connections.
(SOPHE) Fostering Wellness for School Employees
https://elearn.sophe.org/school-employee-wellness-creating-a-culture
Comprehensive guide offering insights into the importance of employee wellness, strategies for developing wellness policies, resources for implementation, and a checklist to assess progress.
Tiered Employee Supports (Tier 2 and 3)
Similar to tiered student supports, tiered employee supports are aimed at staff who may be experiencing higher levels of stress or specific challenges, requiring more personalized group or individual strategies. These could include:
- Mentoring and Coaching: Pairing staff with mentors or coaches to provide guidance, support, and professional development.
- Wellness Workshops: Small group workshops addressing topics like work-life balance, coping strategies, and emotional literacy.
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Confidential counseling services for staff dealing with personal or professional issues.
- Professional Counseling Services: Access to psychologists or therapists specializing in occupational stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
Find information and resources for identifying evidence-based clearinghouses and interventions that meet your needs in the Effective Implementation section of our resource library.
(Hanover Research) Tiered Approach to Teacher Well-Being
This document identifies opportunities to support employee well-being using a tiered approach and includes examples from the field.
(Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) Strengthening Staff Wellness Through Multi-Tiered System of Supports
This document outlines recommendations for using a multi-tiered system of supports to strengthen staff wellness.
Contact Us
For questions or more information, connect with us.
Heidi Milby, MPH
Associate Director, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities
hmilby@chronicdisease.org