Students are often, understandably, the focus of school health efforts. But advocates say district wellness plans work best when they have a broader focus, incorporating the practices of teachers and other adults in the school, too.
The North Allegheny district in Pittsburgh took such an approach when it noticed troubling trends in the health of some of its staff, including higher insurance rates. The solution? An ambitious exercise plan that included challenging teachers to run a marathon in relay teams. Education Week‘s video team explains in this video.
The district’s efforts fit into a broader vision of school health and “whole-child” practices included in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child updated school health model released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a few years ago. That model includes employee wellness alongside factors like community involvement, physical education, and social and emotional climate.
Read more about school wellness:
- New School Health Model Incorporates ‘Whole Child’ Principles
- New Reports Grade Schools on Reading, Writing, and Recess
- Withholding Recess as a Punishment Declines
- Body Mass Index Reports Have No Effect on Student Health, Study Says
- Federal Officials Urge Collaboration Between Schools, Health Care Providers