TL Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH Union Local Schools Superintendent Zach Schattler, left, and Wheeling mental wellness coach Joel Morey, right, celebrate receiving a grant that will allow Morey to provide services to school district employees next year.
BELMONT — A $20,000 grant will allow Union Local School District teachers, staff and administrators to focus on managing their own wellness next school year and better support student development.
The services are the result of a partnership with Wheeling-based mental wellness coach Joel Morey, who came up with the idea to apply for grants to help the school after meeting Christina Estle, curator of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing and owner of Lakeside Grants LLC.
Estle, who started her business a year ago, said she wanted to use her experience writing grant applications for museums and other nonprofits to help the community. “It’s a great way to help grow the Ohio Valley.” She said most nonprofits are understaffed and don’t have the experience writing grant applications.
According to Estelle, when they presented the idea of a grant to promote the wellness of ULSD employees, Chancellor Zach Schatler was excited and receptive.
“Zach jumped on it.” She pointed out. “He was really excited about Joel’s program. He’s a really big fan of mental health awareness.”
So Estle met with the directors of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation in Cleveland to see if they would be willing to fund the project.
According to the organization’s website, the organization was founded in 1959 by Mrs. Andrew R. Jennings, who had a deep interest in improving elementary and secondary education.
“The Foundation began with $11 million and, through careful stewardship of its assets, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation has awarded more than $150 million in grants since its inception. Today, we continue to provide more than $3 million annually to support PK-12 education throughout Ohio by leveraging three complementary strategies: making grants, convening thought partners and honoring the teaching profession.” The site states:
Estelle said the foundation’s director typically works with urban schools. “I’m very curious about Union Local.” The director told her that UL was the first unified school district to seek funding through the foundation.
“It was a real eye-opener for her.” Estelle said.
Once funding was secured, Schatler and Morey came up with a plan. Morey said all of the tools they would provide district employees were evidence-based and highly effective at reducing stress and increasing mindfulness. Examples she gave included breathing exercises, meditation and communication strategies.
According to Moray, this training “It’s interactive and immersive.” This is offered in a group setting and treated as professional development that takes place before or after school.
Schatler said the goal is to complete 15 sessions and have all district employees participate.
Morey hopes the training will help increase employee engagement, reduce absenteeism and extend career lengths.
“We hope to see less absenteeism among staff and that they will be more engaged in their work while they’re here. The goal is to give them the tools to deal with different issues that come up in life.” Shattar said.
“Teaching is a very difficult and stressful job.” Estelle pointed out. “They are important to our children’s future. They are role models for our children and people to look up to.”
She added that she hopes Morey’s planned meditation and exercise programs will impact teaching methods and the classroom, positively impacting children.
