In tumultuous times, it is a true gift as an educator to be supported by an organization that consistently envisions a future for schools that enables every student and teacher to be treated with respect, encouraged to listen to themselves, and given the resources to develop trust and joy in community together. – Mindfulness Director
Is Your School Ready to Take Its Mindfulness Program to the Next Level?
WholeSchool works to establish and support the position of a Mindfulness Director in schools. Put simply, a Mindfulness Director is a part-time or full-time K-12 school or district employee whose role is to integrate culturally-responsive, healing-centered mindfulness practices within their community. With ongoing support provided by WholeSchool, the Mindfulness Director guides formal and informal mindfulness practices to students, staff, faculty, and families, and thoughtfully weaves mindfulness into the community fabric and daily life of the school.
I’ve seen such a positive impact on the social & emotional growth of our students. – Darwin Eubanks, Partner School Leader
What We Look For in Partner Schools
WholeSchool looks for experienced educators who are rooted in their school communities and partner schools committed to growing and deepening their mindfulness programming.
WholeSchool partners with schools of all kinds– public, charter, private, urban, rural, financially strong, and under-resourced. Our focus is on creating equity and access by prioritizing partnerships with district public schools that serve communities of color and low-income populations.
What You Can Expect from Partnering with Us
Through a two-year formal partnership, WholeSchool collaborates with Mindfulness Directors and School Leaders to integrate and accelerate mindfulness programming in their communities.
WholeSchool Provides:
- Up to $30,000 over two years (max $15,000 annually) in needs-based funding
- Professional development for Mindfulness Directors valued at $18,000
- Flexible professional development funds up to $1,500
- Strategic advising and sustainability planning for Partner School leaders
WholeSchool’s partnership is catalytic in nature. Our financial support is intended to support the Mindfulness Director’s salary as they work to build a sustainable mindfulness program. While we seek to engage in a formal two-year partnership, we look for schools with the desire and intention to sustain mindfulness programming for years to come.
WholeSchool is a catalyst. Because of our partnership with WholeSchool, we’ve been able to speed up the rate at which we integrate mindfulness across the division. It has allowed us to have a designated person within the school who can drill deep down into a particular school community. And at the same time, her impact has a ripple effect that resonates throughout the entire division. – Dr. Ram Bhagat, Director of the Massive Resilience Project at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Partnership Requirements
To partner with WholeSchool, your school must:
- Be based in California, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, or Washington, DC
- Commit to allocating at least 8 hours per week of a staff member’s time to the dedicated work of a Mindfulness Director
- Support your Mindfulness Directors’ participation in professional development and cohort activities
- Demonstrate intention to sustain the Mindfulness Director position beyond the formal two-year partnership
How to Get Started:
- Identify an educator within your school or district who is passionate about mindfulness and social justice and poised to take the lead in building sustainable mindfulness programming for your school.
- Support their Mindfulness Director application by signing a Letter of Interest approving their time and role responsibilities.
- Engage in the selection process, including a partnership readiness assessment, to ensure a strong fit for your school community.