Enhancing Employee Wellness in Schools: Tips for Health and Physical Educators

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model is a student-centered approach that addresses the importance of health in schools. This framework acknowledges that schools are not just a place where students learn, but they are also worksites (CDC, 2021). Evidence-based employee wellness initiatives have the potential to improve employee health, increase productivity and performance, reduce absences, lower healthcare costs, and in the school setting, benefit students. School employees often serve as role models for students; therefore, it is important that school staff model healthy behaviors for students including, but not limited to healthy eating, stress management, and active lifestyles. A comprehensive school employee wellness approach coordinates programs and resources within their school and community to address multiple risk factors and health conditions to meet the health and safety needs of all school employees (CDC, 2021). This article provides strategies and steps that health and physical education teachers can take to implement and promote employee wellness in their schools.