Mindfulness for Educational Practice: A Path to Resilience for Challenging Work (Research on Stress and Coping in Education)

A volume in Research on Stress and Coping in EducationSeries Editors Gordon S. Gates, Walter H. Gmelch, and Mimi WolvertonThis book is the VIII Volume in the Research on Stress and Coping in Education Series. Mindfulness isgaining attention within many disciplines including education and the authors present original researchand current theory for examining ways such practice can be used to improve school outcomes for studentsand strengthen supports for teachers and school leaders. The chapters are written to be useful forpractitioners and pre-service educators by posing recommendations for those considering these strategiesand techniques. Specific treatment is given to work of teachers, principals, and superintendents.Mindfulness for Educational Practice provides research worthy of contemplation, and a timely call tomore seriously consider the merits of thoughtful reflection and personal awareness in our roles aseducators. Social emotional learning is not just for students, but has deep implications for the adults whoserve them. This is a great resource for teachers, principals, and central office administrators as theygrapple with the stress, burnout, and flexibility fatigue of those with whom they work, and a beginning look at how we can show compassion toourselves and others by increasing our resilience through mindfulness.Jenny Rodriquez, NBCT, Principal, Delta High School, Richland, WATeachers and administrators are working hard to help our students learn and succeed. Every day in my capacity as school improvement coach, I seeeducators seriously engaged in enacting reform. Although adults and students in public schools are diligently implementing change to realize higherlevels of learning toward standards, the "achievement gap" continues to haunt all of us. The challenges are real and Ii know few educationprofessionals who haven’t wondered in a moment of panic or pain, given all that must be done, if they can continue. The book Gordon Gates has editedsuggests than in addition to these external reforms we initiate, it may be the internal shifts made through mindfulness that are also needed to realize ourgoals. Gates’ book suggests and shares how mindfulness practice may be an important practical move.The chapters offer many examples to consider and appreciate mindfulness in mitigating anxiousneural downshifts that commonly threaten teaching and learning. Further, mindfulness allows higherlevel cognitive processes to flourish. Therefore, this is a book for educators who may be struggling orready to strengthen their resilience so they can be fully engaged in their work focused on helping allstudents succeed academically and grow developmentally on their life’s journey.Jeanine Butler, Ph.D., Leadership Coach, Washington State Leadership Academy & Office ofSuperintendent of Public Instruction