[STAFF SPOTLIGHT] How a New York School District Prioritizes Self-Care with WellVille

Welcome to “WellVille", a wellness center for district staff in Long Island, New York. In this episode of the GW Spotlight, Debbi Rakowsky, a school social worker in the Three Village School District, shares her insights about creating a space for educators to pause, connect, and shift from a culture of burnout to balance. In this video, you will learn:

• How WellVille got started
• A typical school day in WellVille (virtual + in-person)
• Equipment for the staff wellness center
• How WellVille provides free counseling + workshops for staff
• A creative way to get your walking steps in throughout the school day
• Ideas for staff check-ins and support
• How to get funding for your staff wellness center
• The #1 thing you need to start your own staff wellness center
• Where to get tools and practices for staff wellness

With compassion fatigue, anxiety, and depression on the rise, we must shift the paradigm of self-care is a luxury to self-care is a priority. As you will see from watching this video, Debbi shows us that this shift doesn't take much time, but creates a massive positive impact.

Thank you for your dedication to staff wellness, Debbi! You are a true Wellness Warrior!