Working Well: A Focus On Staff Wellbeing With an Equity And Mental Health Lens

Wednesday February 7, 2024
1:15 - 2:15 PM
B113-B116

This session will address the growing concerns related to teacher and staff wellbeing, including a review of strategies and resources to support a healthy workforce. We will provide an overview of recommended resources (e.g., podcasts, resource directory) developed with practitioner and researcher input. We will highlight the role of staff equity as a foundation for promoting a supportive work environment for both students and staff. We will also consider the importance of staff wellbeing as a cornerstone for student mental and behavioral health. We will conclude with a review of additional resources, tools, and materials freely available through the National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE).

Presenters
Greta Colombi

Ms. Greta Colombi is a Principal TA Consultant in the Youth, Family and Community Development program area of the Human Services division at American Institutes for Research (AIR). She has over 25 years of experience in program monitoring and reporting, technical assistance, and research in both the education and the health and human services fields. In particular, over the past 13 years, Ms. Colombi has focused her work on improving school climate and discipline. This has involved providing TA to States and districts on making school climate improvements; working with education and justice leaders to use positive discipline approaches; and developing user-friendly, actionable products. She currently serves as the director of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, funded by the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, she oversees technical assistance and product development and dissemination, including online and face-to-face training, website design, evaluation, report writing, site visits, quality assurance and monitoring, training and facilitation, and technical assistance. Ms. Colombi holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Ruth Ryder

Ms. Ruth Ryder is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Policy and Programs – Formula Grants in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, Ms. Ryder oversees a broad range of management, policy, and program functions related to formula and discretionary grant programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA). Ms. Ryder was previously the deputy director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which she joined in 1988. Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Ryder was a program administrator in a Washington state school district. There she had responsibility for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I and Title II programs, state-remediation, gifted education, outcome-based education, and state- and district-wide testing programs. Ms. Ryder has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Special Education.
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In-person Lecture
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