Wellness Champions

Promoting well-being is fundamental to enhancing student success, cultivating a positive and safe school environment, and ensuring staff retention. The graduate course “Wellness Champions” empowers educators to lead wellness initiatives aimed at enhancing the health of students, staff, and the entire school community. Throughout this course, educators actively assess their school’s wellness landscape using the School Health Index (SHI) and utilize the insights gained to design programs and activities that drive positive change, aligning with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model developed by the CDC and ASCD. This hands-on approach equips participants to actively assess, strategize, and implement wellness initiatives within their educational communities. They will design and execute their wellness projects while maintaining a 30-hour activity log dedicated to project development and implementation. By providing practical tools and a student-centered approach, this course prepares educators to foster holistic well-being in their schools. Ultimately, it contributes to improved student and staff health, creating a nurturing and supportive learning environment for all. Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to: Evaluate School Wellness: Participants will assess their school’s wellness landscape using the School Health Index (SHI), identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement. Analyze and Assemble Evidence-Based Resources: Participants will critically assess and assemble a comprehensive selection of evidence-based wellness resources, enhancing the accessibility of support and information for both students and staff. Align Wellness Initiatives with the WSCC Model: Educators will align the findings from the SHI assessment with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to create a comprehensive wellness strategy. Foster Healthy Decision-Making: Participants will explore the challenges associated with making healthy decisions and develop strategies to foster a culture that encourages and supports healthy decision-making among school community members.