Creating an Environment for Healing: District Self-Eval Toolkit for Employee Sustainability & Mental Health

There’s something sacred about the work of education. It’s soul work. It’s exhausting and beautiful, complex and deeply human. However, educators—some of the most resilient professionals I’ve ever known—are struggling to stay engaged. They’re tired, not because they lack resilience or "their why", but because they’re burning out in systems that were never designed with their well-being in mind. Between the endless initiatives, data tracking, safety drills, curriculum changes, and the collective trauma we’ve all been navigating, many educators stopped feeling like they mattered. They stopped feeling whole.

As a consultant, advocate, and former teacher and administrator, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply educator mental health is tied to school culture, innovation, and student outcomes. And I’ve also seen how easy it is to feel stuck as a leader. That knowing that something needs to change but unsure where to begin.

Too often, schools only begin to address mental health when it becomes impossible to ignore. When burnout reaches crisis levels. When someone finally breaks.

As someone who works daily in the space of educator wellness, emotional engagement, and healing, I created something I believe can be transformative because it focuses on the sustainability of their environment. I've spent years explaining to educators how they can heal, increase their resilience, and understand their control. I get asked regularly what I'm doing to ask districts to change. I've worked with districts to create change at that level, but never to the extent of working through a framework. Now, that's what I have.

The Educator Mental Health Self-Evaluation Toolkit

These free toolkits were created for school and district leaders who are ready to take a clear-eyed, compassionate look at how their systems support—or unintentionally harm—the well-being of their educators. The tools guide leaders through three levels of readiness:

Initial Awareness – For districts just starting to recognize the emotional toll on educators, where the work culture may feel reactive, misaligned, and overwhelming.

Active Implementation – For those who have taken steps forward—creating policies, offering training, piloting wellness initiatives—but who still experience inconsistency and staff uncertainty.🌿

Embedded Culture – For districts striving to make mental health part of their daily culture, where wellness is modeled from the top, where teachers feel seen, and where the work is sustainable.

Each toolkit includes real-world indicators, guiding questions for reflection, and practical improvement strategies that you can begin implementing immediately.

Initial Awareness

At the Initial Awareness level, a school or district is in the early stages of recognizing that educator mental health matters—but systems of support are limited, inconsistent, or entirely missing. The environment often feels reactive. Stress is addressed only once it becomes unmanageable. Teachers are overwhelmed by too many disconnected initiatives, low morale, and a lack of clarity on priorities.

What It Looks Like:

• High levels of teacher burnout, absenteeism, and disengagement.

• No formal mental health policies or programs.

• Minimal training on mental health or emotional well-being.

• Leadership may care deeply but lack the tools or time to act.

What It Feels Like:

• A sense of isolation, frustration, and emotional fatigue among staff.

• Frequent conversations about crisis management rather than proactive care.

• Lack of trust that mental health is truly prioritized.

Where to Start:

The toolkit for Initial Awareness provides:

• Clear indicators to help identify gaps.

• Improvement strategies like initiative audits, basic mental health policy drafting, and awareness training.

• Guiding questions for leaders ready to begin building sustainable change from the ground up.

This isn’t about adding more. It’s about doing less but better, and starting with what matters most: your people.

Active Implementation: Building with Intention

In Active Implementation, the district has acknowledged the importance of educator mental health and has started to respond. Mental health language is being used in meetings. There may be policies in place, some training provided, and wellness initiatives piloted. But the work is inconsistent and not yet embedded in daily practice. Staff may be confused about what's available or skeptical about whether it's built to last.

What It Looks Like:

• Some mental health policies exist, but enforcement is uneven.

• Training happens a few times a year but may not feel personalized or connected.

• Multiple mental health resources are available, but usage is still low.

What It Feels Like:

• Staff begin to feel heard but may remain cautious.

• Leaders are trying—but often juggling competing priorities.

• Some progress is visible, but it’s hard to tell if it’s enough.

Where to Go From Here:

The Active Implementation toolkit focuses on:

• Consistency—ensuring policies are enforced and communicated clearly.

• Integration—embedding wellness into existing professional development.

• Engagement—supporting leaders in being visible champions of this work.

This level is about moving from intention to alignment—so educators stop seeing mental health support as a one-time initiative and start seeing it as part of how your district operates every day.

Embedded Culture: Leading with Compassion and Courage

When a district reaches Embedded Culture, mental health and educator well-being are not just present—they’re protected. They’re part of the system. Policies are not only written but understood and enforced. Staff participate in wellness programs because they trust the system. Administrators lead with emotional intelligence. And the environment is one of psychological safety, care, and empathy.

What It Looks Like:

• High levels of participation in mental health and wellness initiatives.

• Low burnout and absenteeism.

• Embedded professional development focused on resilience, healing, and innovation.

• Leaders model healthy boundaries, encourage open dialogue, and respond with empathy.

What It Feels Like:

• Staff feel seen, heard, and supported.

• Mental health conversations are normalized.

• The workplace feels sustainable and empowering.

• Innovation is possible because educators feel safe to try, fail, and grow.

How to Sustain It:

The Embedded Culture toolkit helps you:

• Review and refine programs for long-term sustainability.

• Build a leadership pipeline that understands and prioritizes mental health.

• Ensure all voices—especially those of marginalized educators—are included in policy and planning.

This is the level where districts don’t just retain teachers—they energize them. But, it also takes work to stay here.

How to Use the Self-Assessment & Toolkits

I’ve created a free Educator Mental Health Self-Assessment Quiz that helps you determine which level your district is currently functioning at. It’s fast, reflective, and meant to be the beginning of an honest conversation—first with yourself, then with your team. You can find the guiding infographic at the bottom of this post.

When you complete the quiz, you’ll receive access to:

• The Initial Awareness, Active Implementation, and Embedded Culture toolkits.

• Practical, field-tested strategies for your level.

• Reflection prompts and consulting support options.

Hint: If you're already on my mailing list they're on their way to your inbox soon!

You’re Not Alone in This Work

Supporting educator mental health is complex, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. If you’re a district leader trying to figure out your next step—or if you’re ready to create a culture of sustainability and innovation—I’d love to work with you.

I offer:

• Consulting and coaching tailored to where your district is right now.

• Workshops and keynotes that inspire and equip your team.

• Custom course development focused on healing, engagement, and resilience.

• Leadership Mindset Training to help everyone get on board and fight against their own burnout.

Reach out to start a conversation: Contact Me