WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:20.495 --> 00:00:22.895 Jethro Jones: Welcome to the Resilient Schools Podcast. 00:00:22.895 --> 00:00:24.995 I am your host, Jethro Jones. 00:00:25.045 --> 00:00:27.805 You can find me on all the socials at Jethro Jones. 00:00:27.905 --> 00:00:35.885 The Resilient Schools Podcast is a proud member of the BE Podcast Network where you can find the best educational podcast out there. 00:00:36.380 --> 00:00:57.890 So excited today to have Amber Nki, who was on the Transformative Principal Podcast many years ago, and we've stayed in touch and I'm really glad we did because she is all about teacher wellness and she created an app called Teacher Well, which you can find@teacherwellapp.com, and she has just done some amazing work. 00:00:58.280 --> 00:01:00.050 So welcome Amber. 00:01:00.050 --> 00:01:01.910 Thanks for joining me on Resilient Schools. 00:01:02.365 --> 00:01:05.335 Amber Dembowski: Thanks for having me I am super excited to be here. 00:01:05.365 --> 00:01:08.875 You have been an ongoing inspiration to me, Jethro. 00:01:09.195 --> 00:01:15.815 Like you mentioned, I was on your podcast Transformative Principal back, it was 2016 or 2017. 00:01:15.975 --> 00:01:17.025 I can't even remember. 00:01:17.025 --> 00:01:18.495 It seems like a lifetime ago. 00:01:18.895 --> 00:01:24.475 But you made me feel super comfortable and I have been a huge follower of you ever since. 00:01:24.675 --> 00:01:25.815 I appreciate that. 00:01:25.815 --> 00:01:31.655 And that was in actually 2020 when that was published, Oh, 20, 20, okay. 00:01:32.005 --> 00:01:32.845 Jethro Jones: not that long ago. 00:01:32.845 --> 00:01:33.625 Isn't that crazy? 00:01:34.025 --> 00:01:35.675 Amber Dembowski: That feels like a lifetime ago. 00:01:35.675 --> 00:01:36.425 2020. 00:01:36.425 --> 00:01:37.355 How is that? 00:01:37.795 --> 00:01:38.275 Jethro Jones: I know. 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:39.355 It's wild. 00:01:39.715 --> 00:01:42.235 Well, there is a link to that episode. 00:01:42.235 --> 00:01:47.295 There was actually one that I split into two episodes on Transformative Principal dot org. 00:01:47.625 --> 00:01:57.555 I will put a link to that in the show notes@resilientschools.com so people can go back and listen to that because that conversation we talked about bringing humanity back. 00:01:57.730 --> 00:02:00.880 And mistakes that instructional leaders make. 00:02:00.910 --> 00:02:10.320 And those were good episodes that I think are worthwhile and people should definitely go back and listen to because they've aged well and they're not those things are still real. 00:02:10.380 --> 00:02:13.320 They're still things that we need to be thinking about and paying attention to. 00:02:13.320 --> 00:02:18.340 And so, so the links to those are on the show notes for this show@resilientschools.com. 00:02:18.970 --> 00:02:20.290 One of the things that. 00:02:20.490 --> 00:02:29.460 That I say about resilient schools is that resilient schools have resilient principals that hire resilient teachers, that teach resilient students. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:36.700 And the process has to happen to all the people in the school to make them resilient. 00:02:36.700 --> 00:02:40.855 And so one of those things that that happens there is. 00:02:41.405 --> 00:02:48.345 Having teachers take care of themselves and feel like they can, that they have the space and having systems in place to support that. 00:02:48.915 --> 00:02:50.415 So tell us about teacher. 00:02:50.415 --> 00:02:57.495 Well, what led to it and what made you decide to create that instead of doing all kinds of other things that you could have done? 00:02:58.270 --> 00:02:58.720 Amber Dembowski: Oh my gosh. 00:02:58.720 --> 00:03:00.530 Do you want the long story or the short 00:03:00.715 --> 00:03:05.135 Jethro Jones: Well let's go with the short version and spurts and we'll, we may dive into a little bit more. 00:03:05.335 --> 00:03:10.025 Amber Dembowski: Well, the short version starts about four years ago, and so 00:03:10.195 --> 00:03:11.605 Jethro Jones: Right after you're on my podcast. 00:03:11.605 --> 00:03:12.535 Interesting. 00:03:12.565 --> 00:03:12.985 Okay. 00:03:13.185 --> 00:03:13.545 Amber Dembowski: Yes. 00:03:13.545 --> 00:03:15.945 Well, right after I was on your podcast. 00:03:16.145 --> 00:03:20.855 I was asked or assigned to a building to be principal. 00:03:20.855 --> 00:03:24.905 I was already principal for seven years and I was asked to go to a new building. 00:03:25.595 --> 00:03:35.995 And this new location, this new building was in a community that experienced a lot of trauma the trauma would trickle into the building. 00:03:36.145 --> 00:03:42.935 As I'm sure you know, lots of administrators and teachers have experienced, every day was really tough. 00:03:43.165 --> 00:03:52.985 There's not a day that I wouldn't go home with a bruise or a new bite mark or be outside for hours in the cold chasing after a kid who had left school property. 00:03:53.355 --> 00:04:04.095 Every day was really tough and it was tearing apart me, but I also had teachers who were kind of crumbling and this was under. 00:04:04.295 --> 00:04:14.255 Leadership who believed in the power of a positive mindset, who believed in developing the resilience in teachers, but I couldn't keep up with it. 00:04:14.455 --> 00:04:19.615 we even had all of the right things and systems in place so that those things shouldn't be happening. 00:04:20.035 --> 00:04:29.445 You know, we had great teachers, we had strong SEL programs, we had a lot of resources for our families in the community. 00:04:29.645 --> 00:04:35.405 on paper it looked like everything should be okay, but everything wasn't okay. 00:04:35.405 --> 00:04:43.615 So that's when I started researching you know, I found all these apps, well, not all these, I think I found one app for Workplace Wellbeing 00:04:44.225 --> 00:04:51.105 It was I was intrigued by it, but it was so expensive and it was developed for corporations. 00:04:51.305 --> 00:04:54.705 corporations like Paramount, Walmart hundreds of 'em. 00:04:54.710 --> 00:05:00.430 I can't think of all of them, but they were purchasing this app and I wanted to be a part of that. 00:05:00.430 --> 00:05:06.040 And it kind of pissed me off that this is something that education doesn't have the funds for. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:09.915 ' cause we need it probably more than anyone else, in my opinion. 00:05:10.410 --> 00:05:30.990 Jethro Jones: Well, and if I can interject there real quick, this idea that there are things that industry is doing that we are not doing in education that are very real and definitely have an impact, and sometimes they are priced out of reach for education and that could be very good. 00:05:31.380 --> 00:05:33.900 There was one, gosh, I can't remember the name of it now. 00:05:33.900 --> 00:05:44.520 I'll probably remember it and I might bring it up later, but there was an employee engagement app tool that was out there that I just thought was amazing and was so good, but it was so expensive. 00:05:44.580 --> 00:05:52.740 It would've cost like half of our entire budget to be able to access it, and they wouldn't offer an educator discount. 00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:57.790 And it was too bad because it could have been really beneficial and provided some good things. 00:05:57.850 --> 00:05:58.960 And I. 00:05:59.440 --> 00:06:01.600 It's just unfortunate when those things happen. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:03.190 'cause it doesn't always have to be that way. 00:06:03.805 --> 00:06:08.305 Amber Dembowski: Absolutely, and that was really kind of the deciding factor for me. 00:06:08.305 --> 00:06:15.755 Like there's something bigger out there that I need to dedicate my time toward and that I want to be a part of. 00:06:16.979 --> 00:06:17.309 Jethro Jones: Yeah. 00:06:17.369 --> 00:06:23.959 And so you created the Teacher Well app and so what does it look like and how do people use it for their wellbeing? 00:06:24.009 --> 00:06:24.819 And also, I. 00:06:25.044 --> 00:06:31.599 Why is it so important for a school or district to purchase the license for everybody and not just an individual? 00:06:31.799 --> 00:06:33.959 Amber Dembowski: Gosh, that's a packed question there. 00:06:34.209 --> 00:06:39.599 So there are three main, I guess, things that teacher, well tackles. 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:42.269 And actually I'm gonna, I wrote down a quote. 00:06:42.269 --> 00:06:44.879 So you host a monthly meeting, 00:06:45.389 --> 00:06:47.339 uh, for the big impact mixer 00:06:47.639 --> 00:06:47.940 and I 00:06:48.214 --> 00:06:49.924 Jethro Jones: Go check it out if you wanna make a big impact. 00:06:49.924 --> 00:06:51.274 Thank you for bringing that up, Amber. 00:06:51.529 --> 00:06:52.519 Amber Dembowski: Absolutely. 00:06:52.939 --> 00:06:57.409 And the very first meeting was about resilience. 00:06:57.609 --> 00:07:01.449 And I wrote down this quote, and I'm pretty sure you're the one who said it. 00:07:01.809 --> 00:07:02.709 Jethro Jones: Oh, you're quoting me. 00:07:03.369 --> 00:07:04.539 Amber Dembowski: yes. 00:07:04.569 --> 00:07:11.169 You said resilience is a little light that encourages you to take the next step. 00:07:11.409 --> 00:07:11.829 Was that you? 00:07:12.029 --> 00:07:15.299 Jethro Jones: It could have been, I say a lot of things and I don't always remember 'em. 00:07:16.094 --> 00:07:17.774 Amber Dembowski: Well, I'm pretty sure it was you. 00:07:17.774 --> 00:07:20.024 I wrote down the quote, I have it right here in front of me. 00:07:20.564 --> 00:07:28.454 And that's what Teacher Well is it's a little light that encourages people to take the next step so it develops resilience. 00:07:28.874 --> 00:07:33.084 It, self-awareness and it helps people prioritize self-care. 00:07:33.084 --> 00:07:41.514 So those are really the three main things that the app does, and it is curated all for teachers. 00:07:41.574 --> 00:07:46.584 Even though the strategies that you learn within it generalize to the rest of your life. 00:07:46.644 --> 00:07:53.604 Because as a teacher you walk in and you're not just a teacher, you're a mom or a dad, or a sister or a daughter. 00:07:53.999 --> 00:07:56.699 So you're those things first and then a teacher. 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:57.239 So 00:07:57.239 --> 00:08:05.909 teacher, while the strategies are rooted in the stressors of the job of an educator, but you can use those strategies in any part of your life, so. 00:08:06.109 --> 00:08:11.939 Jethro Jones: Well, and this is what I like so much about it, is that it is not designed to help you be a better teacher. 00:08:12.239 --> 00:08:14.849 It is designed to help you be a better person. 00:08:15.179 --> 00:08:26.199 And I can say that confidently because it's not about, so one of the things that I often say is you shouldn't take care of yourself so that you have enough to give everybody else. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:31.179 You should take care of yourself because you personally matter enough that. 00:08:31.749 --> 00:08:38.569 You should take care of yourself just because you are a human being and you deserve to be taken care of as a human being. 00:08:38.599 --> 00:08:48.199 And all too often we, especially in education, we self-sacrifice for the good of someone else and you know. 00:08:48.859 --> 00:08:52.759 We don't do the things that are good for us because they're good for us. 00:08:52.969 --> 00:08:58.699 We always say, well, I need to do that so that I can have more time, energy, whatever, to support these other people. 00:08:58.699 --> 00:09:07.129 And it's like, no, you really gotta recognize you are valuable enough as your own self to, to take care of yourself in a powerful way. 00:09:07.179 --> 00:09:10.349 And that's what you're talking about here as well. 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:11.519 Amber Dembowski: For sure. 00:09:11.669 --> 00:09:14.789 You know, I've always been so fascinated by athletes. 00:09:14.789 --> 00:09:26.609 I'm not a huge sports buff, but just, I find fascinating because they, their job professional athletes, their job is to go out and do this real physical activity. 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:30.149 But then when you really read about how they prepare for it. 00:09:30.494 --> 00:09:38.354 There's a lot of mental fitness that they're doing behind the scenes, and I think that's something that we're missing. 00:09:38.454 --> 00:09:44.584 Kirk Cousins was talking about how his recovery time is so important and I. 00:09:44.764 --> 00:09:47.584 I think we need recovery time as teachers. 00:09:47.584 --> 00:09:49.504 I know we're not out there getting tackled. 00:09:49.804 --> 00:09:50.374 Actually. 00:09:50.374 --> 00:09:53.904 I think I have gotten tackled once, but not on a daily basis. 00:09:54.314 --> 00:09:58.254 But our minds are going through a battlefield every single day. 00:09:58.644 --> 00:10:01.704 And so we have to build in that time for the recovery. 00:10:02.334 --> 00:10:04.854 And then there's also mental fitness. 00:10:05.134 --> 00:10:13.774 You know, just like you do pushups to gain strength in your arms, you also need to do things to build up the neural circuits in your brain. 00:10:14.294 --> 00:10:28.544 Just to kind of simplify it, and I'm sure you're familiar, there's the amygdala in the back of the brain and that's where our fight or flight responses and then the prefrontal cortex, that's where we can think more reasonably. 00:10:28.544 --> 00:10:29.684 But that's also where hope. 00:10:29.884 --> 00:10:37.254 resilience and self-compassion lives all of the message that messages that go through our brain, they have to go through that amygdala first. 00:10:37.254 --> 00:10:44.304 And if our neuro circuits aren't strong enough, if we don't work them out, it's not gonna make its way up to the prefrontal cortex. 00:10:44.754 --> 00:10:48.924 And so we really have to prioritize that mental fitness. 00:10:48.924 --> 00:10:53.064 So there's kind of like the recovery time, and then there's also the mental fitness time. 00:10:53.264 --> 00:11:08.804 Jethro Jones: Yeah and they're so important, and a lot of my coaching has to do with that mental fitness piece of helping people be in a place where they can withstand the barrage of difficulties that are coming at them from the outside and from the inside. 00:11:09.209 --> 00:11:23.849 Because we all have saboteurs in ourselves that are telling us we are not good enough, or this bad thing is going to happen, or we should avoid doing that because it's uncomfortable and all these different saboteurs that are preventing us from being successful. 00:11:23.849 --> 00:11:26.879 And the reality is if you're not doing something to. 00:11:27.569 --> 00:11:46.229 Ease that pathway so that the messages can get through to the prefrontal cortex, then they're just not going to, and you're going to react with your lizard brain with your biggest fear first instead of with how you actually want to react. 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:50.069 And so how does your system help people with that? 00:11:50.269 --> 00:11:57.169 Amber Dembowski: So the app is filled with a variety of resources because just like I mentioned, we all come in as different people. 00:11:57.169 --> 00:12:00.919 We all have experience, different experiences. 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:02.479 We all have different knowledge. 00:12:02.479 --> 00:12:07.589 And so we need a variety of strategies because not one thing is going to work. 00:12:07.789 --> 00:12:09.424 you know, there's the teachers who are the. 00:12:09.624 --> 00:12:14.114 You know, over committed, exhausted, and overworked teachers. 00:12:14.114 --> 00:12:19.324 And then on the opposite side of the spectrum, there's the I hate my job, I'm getting ready to quit. 00:12:19.324 --> 00:12:22.164 Teacher both sides of the spectrum Aristotle. 00:12:22.294 --> 00:12:24.814 He talks about finding our golden mean. 00:12:24.844 --> 00:12:26.704 He says That's where we flourish. 00:12:26.824 --> 00:12:29.104 And the golden mean is that happy middle. 00:12:29.104 --> 00:12:31.114 It's whatever's in between all of that. 00:12:31.504 --> 00:12:36.904 And the app offers a variety of strategies so that people can find their happy middle. 00:12:37.144 --> 00:12:40.314 And so the app is filled with personal development. 00:12:40.514 --> 00:12:45.624 it's filled with meditation and it's filled with challenges to prioritize self-care. 00:12:45.824 --> 00:12:56.974 And so all of these are resources that are housed within the app and the teachers can mark them as completed and earn points and badges for all of that. 00:12:57.024 --> 00:12:59.064 Just to kind of monitor their progress as they go. 00:12:59.264 --> 00:13:04.059 Jethro Jones: Yeah, and so why an app and not a community? 00:13:04.149 --> 00:13:10.879 And there is a community aspect, so don't get me wrong there, but what's the benefit of having an app to be able to do these things? 00:13:11.079 --> 00:13:17.289 Amber Dembowski: So the app is, it was cre, individuals can purchase it, but it was created for group plans. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:21.989 And within the group plan the principal has more, I. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:26.239 I guess control of how they want this used with their teachers. 00:13:26.439 --> 00:13:32.199 the teachers part of the self-awareness is checking in every day with their principal, and it's just a quick check-in. 00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:33.429 It is optional. 00:13:33.829 --> 00:13:39.319 But it's just a quick check-in where they have to pause for a second and think about what is their attitude for the day. 00:13:39.749 --> 00:13:46.139 And then the principal has the choice to go check on that teacher if they need to, or whatever the case is. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:47.179 So that's one. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:50.739 wanted it to make it a real tool for administrators. 00:13:50.739 --> 00:13:57.749 Actually I built it selfishly as a principal who felt like I was losing control and I didn't have enough to offer my teachers. 00:13:57.749 --> 00:14:00.809 So I built it from a perspective of an administrator. 00:14:01.209 --> 00:14:05.799 I had some missed opportunities to go check in on teachers that I didn't know were struggling. 00:14:05.979 --> 00:14:08.919 And if I would've had this as a tool, I could have done that. 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.489 And 00:14:09.489 --> 00:14:13.609 so really it had to be an app where all of these. 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:18.709 Moving pieces could come together into one cohesive tool. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:28.699 Jethro Jones: And part of the benefit of it is that if it is outside of the school system as it were, it's not part of their evaluation. 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:31.489 It's not like what they say is going to end up on that. 00:14:31.869 --> 00:14:35.139 And I think that that's valuable because it's like this. 00:14:35.654 --> 00:14:45.724 The supportive, interested third bo, third party that's there to help and support, but not there to influence or catch or anything like that. 00:14:45.774 --> 00:14:48.084 And it allows for the human connection. 00:14:48.084 --> 00:14:59.254 And one of the things that I see is that it facilitates the human connection in a more powerful way than, than a lot of other things that could happen. 00:14:59.314 --> 00:14:59.734 Right? 00:15:00.034 --> 00:15:03.959 And so you, this automatic check-in with the principal. 00:15:04.579 --> 00:15:12.964 That is a human to human connection that's facilitated through an app that makes it easy for the principal to have check-ins with everybody. 00:15:13.169 --> 00:15:19.479 That's a little thing, but that's also a really big thing that you can put up a flag and say, Hey, I need some help over here. 00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:24.999 And you know, if the principal's looking too, they can see that flag and go and help you. 00:15:25.614 --> 00:15:26.424 Amber Dembowski: Absolutely. 00:15:26.694 --> 00:15:27.414 I can't even tell. 00:15:27.414 --> 00:15:35.694 You know, it was always a goal of mine to make it into every classroom, every day to greet the teachers every morning, but kicks in and that wasn't always possible. 00:15:35.694 --> 00:15:38.814 So this makes that, that this makes that possible. 00:15:40.792 --> 00:15:42.922 Jethro Jones: So there are other roadblocks. 00:15:43.492 --> 00:15:49.692 What else is gets in the way of principals and teachers being able to prioritize the wellness? 00:15:49.892 --> 00:15:52.377 Amber Dembowski: You know, teachers are completely exhausted. 00:15:52.577 --> 00:16:02.587 There is compassion fatigue, decision fatigue, attention fatigue, all of the behaviors that they're navigating throughout every day. 00:16:02.917 --> 00:16:08.047 And so when they're dragging their bag to their car, I totally get why. 00:16:08.107 --> 00:16:10.827 And at the end of the day, they don't wanna make one more decision. 00:16:11.027 --> 00:16:14.297 I can't even tell you how many times as a principal I've heard. 00:16:14.927 --> 00:16:16.217 You know, oh my gosh. 00:16:16.217 --> 00:16:17.837 You're adding one more thing to my plate. 00:16:17.897 --> 00:16:19.337 I can't take one more thing. 00:16:19.337 --> 00:16:20.747 I can't do one more thing. 00:16:20.947 --> 00:16:22.177 adding things to our plate. 00:16:22.177 --> 00:16:30.067 And so that's why I wanted to be really intentional about teacher, well, to make sure that it just fits into their life. 00:16:30.127 --> 00:16:41.077 Most of the resources are audio, and that was intentional because I wanted it to be able to just fit into what they're already doing so they can listen while they're walking. 00:16:41.077 --> 00:16:42.637 They can listen during plan time. 00:16:42.637 --> 00:16:48.057 They can listen in the car or while they're working out and they can fuel their selves. 00:16:48.337 --> 00:16:50.707 Fuel their soul throughout that process. 00:16:50.907 --> 00:17:03.927 Jethro Jones: And a lot of people have different ways of doing that, and I see one of the benefits here of having everybody on the same page and saying, this is something we're going through together and we are going to have. 00:17:04.257 --> 00:17:06.477 Support common language, things like that. 00:17:06.477 --> 00:17:11.337 How does that help in the process of improving morale and culture in a school? 00:17:11.537 --> 00:17:15.077 Amber Dembowski: I think you know when a principal or a district. 00:17:15.277 --> 00:17:16.867 Purchases the app. 00:17:16.897 --> 00:17:18.847 They're making a huge statement. 00:17:18.877 --> 00:17:21.077 They're, it's, and then it's an incredible message. 00:17:21.077 --> 00:17:23.117 You know, they're saying, we care about you. 00:17:23.357 --> 00:17:35.177 We know this job is hard, and we're gonna give you the tools to help you feel better about yourself and to feel your best self when you walk through that door. 00:17:35.627 --> 00:17:39.257 And so I think it starts there, but. 00:17:39.457 --> 00:17:44.217 also the principal has to be a little intentional about what they're doing and how they're using it. 00:17:44.217 --> 00:17:51.877 It's not like they can just purchase it and throw it out to the teachers and think all as well just like when you purchase new curriculum. 00:17:51.877 --> 00:17:54.817 So, but I support what, I support them through that. 00:17:54.817 --> 00:17:58.897 I have templates of emails that they can send to their teachers. 00:17:59.297 --> 00:18:05.967 I create, if they have the time within their PD calendar, I create little PD sessions that they can. 00:18:06.297 --> 00:18:10.107 Pull from and use to incorporate teacher well into those sessions. 00:18:10.197 --> 00:18:17.297 And so, you're right, the language and just the focus, I think making the statement of this is important. 00:18:17.717 --> 00:18:23.707 I believe that your wellbeing is just as important as the instructional strategies that we're teaching. 00:18:24.187 --> 00:18:27.007 I think it's all powerful and it really has to come. 00:18:27.157 --> 00:18:29.407 Wellbeing has to come before school improvement. 00:18:29.927 --> 00:18:33.077 Once wellbeing's in place school improvement's gonna skyrocket. 00:18:33.277 --> 00:18:37.867 And I have a whole page on that, on, on the website for teacher Well app. 00:18:38.067 --> 00:18:45.872 Some of that is because when teachers are stressed they're not teaching in quality ways, they're not implementing those strategies very well. 00:18:46.102 --> 00:18:48.862 But the other thing is just emotional contagion. 00:18:49.372 --> 00:18:50.902 You Stress is contagious. 00:18:50.952 --> 00:18:51.012 It. 00:18:51.027 --> 00:18:51.087 You. 00:18:51.287 --> 00:19:00.677 You release cortisol when you're stressed, which actually releases into the air and increases the cortisol of anyone around you. 00:19:00.797 --> 00:19:03.767 So then their stress level rises just for being around you. 00:19:04.007 --> 00:19:05.267 So teachers are stressed. 00:19:05.467 --> 00:19:15.127 get stressed, they start to misbehave, which stresses the teachers out, and it just creates this negative loop, this pat negative pattern that you want to avoid. 00:19:15.337 --> 00:19:21.457 And if you can find ways to avoid it or combat it, then your school improvements going to skyrocket. 00:19:21.657 --> 00:19:22.372 Jethro Jones: Yeah, that. 00:19:22.462 --> 00:19:36.382 That is absolutely true and if you are stressed and worn out and just exhausted and tired, it's gonna be really hard for you to show up as your very best with the students that you're working and. 00:19:36.717 --> 00:19:43.487 So if you're like, man, we really just need to improve school improvement and then we can focus on teacher wellness, now you gotta swap those around. 00:19:43.577 --> 00:19:46.937 And that includes principal wellness and student wellness. 00:19:46.937 --> 00:19:47.447 Also. 00:19:47.747 --> 00:19:54.287 Like those things, if they are taken care of, everybody has more bandwidth to do all the other stuff. 00:19:54.387 --> 00:19:56.727 So I think that is fantastic. 00:19:56.827 --> 00:19:59.977 So thank you Amber, for being part of Resilient Schools. 00:19:59.977 --> 00:20:01.657 This has been awesome chatting with you. 00:20:01.937 --> 00:20:05.087 You can go check it out@teacherwellapp.com. 00:20:05.327 --> 00:20:08.687 And then Amber is active on all the social medias. 00:20:08.687 --> 00:20:13.317 We've got her links to those in the in the show notes@resilientschools.com. 00:20:13.707 --> 00:20:18.497 Final words before we part Amber what's the thing you want everybody to remember from our conversation today? 00:20:18.697 --> 00:20:19.507 Amber Dembowski: Oh gosh. 00:20:19.707 --> 00:20:30.687 I think that we just have to love ourselves enough and invest in ourselves knowing that we are able to accomplish so much more than we think we can. 00:20:30.887 --> 00:20:33.107 the things around us are tearing us down. 00:20:33.107 --> 00:20:34.547 But if we can. 00:20:34.747 --> 00:20:43.377 Persevere through that and have the tools to do it we can really feel happy and joyful every day as a teacher. 00:20:43.577 --> 00:20:44.927 Jethro Jones: Yeah, absolutely. 00:20:45.527 --> 00:20:46.967 Well, Amber, this was great. 00:20:47.027 --> 00:20:47.927 Thank you so much. 00:20:47.927 --> 00:20:49.757 Appreciate you being here once again. 00:20:50.157 --> 00:20:52.257 It is teacher well app.com. 00:20:52.557 --> 00:20:55.497 And Amber, thanks so much for being part of Resilient Schools. 00:20:56.157 --> 00:20:56.567 Amber Dembowski: thank you. 00:20:56.567 --> 00:20:57.097 Jethro.