Introduction

Introduction

The School Well-Being Toolkit is designed to bridge the gap between educational research and practical application. Drawing from over five years of studies on resilience and burnout in Canadian schools conducted by the Resilience, Innovation, and Support for Educators (RISE) Research Lab, this guide summaries and synthesizes key findings on school staff well-being and systemic support within the education sector.

The toolkit provides educators (teachers, educational assistants and school clinicians), support staff (administrative assistants, custodians, bus drivers, financial services and technology supports), school leaders (principal teachers, vice-principal teachers, learning coaches, and consultants), and policymakers (school board members, and senior administrative teams), with actionable insights, reflective prompts, and practical strategies to apply research-based knowledge in real-world settings.

Whether exploring resilience in the face of professional challenges, leveraging innovative instructional practices, or enhancing support structures for colleagues, this companion guide serves as a resource to facilitate informed decision-making and meaningful change.

Each section corresponds to a scholarly article from our Canadian research team, offering summaries, discussion points, active learning activities, and practical takeaways. By integrating research with practice, the School Well-Being Toolkit allows educators to navigate evolving educational landscapes with confidence and clarity.

The chapters are presented in chronological order based on the publication dates of the research articles on which they are based. They begin with a specific focus on teachers under stress and evolve into whole-school, systemic approaches to well-being and renewal. The chapters can be approached in order, or school staff may select to use individual chapters that are most relevant to their own contexts and needs. Importantly, many of the activities offer multiple entry point to support contexts where various levels of support are necessary to really delve into the strengths and challenges within specific school contexts. The activities are aimed at utilizing the research findings to create stronger educators and stronger teams.

For more information and access to our full range of research publications from the RISE Research Lab, please visit the website at (this will be a University of Winnipeg Winnspace Address).