Recently, I had the privilege of conducting a one-day professional development session in New Orleans, facilitated by Tulane University School of Social Work and City Seats, an organization committed to assisting early learning providers, including daycares and their directors, to reach their full potential. Social worker intern Lynn Murchison greeted us at the airport and graciously escorted us to the beautiful training site on the campus of Tulane University. Bobbie Coffie-Garner, Instructional Technology Specialist at Tulane, warmly welcomed my partner Mechelle Davis and me and helped us set up the facility and prepare for our presentation, making us feel genuinely appreciated and valued.
Dr. Marva Lewis from the Tulane School of Social Work invited me to conduct professional development for City Seats program educators. City Seats is an early childhood education program in New Orleans that provides free, high-quality preschool seats to low-income families to support children's development and school readiness. Dr. Lewis gathered a group of esteemed educators, including Dr. Larissa Parrott, Dr. Arnold James, "Miz Dale" Robinson-Rogers, LCSW, Mahala Lewis, Lynn, and Bobbie, for a beautiful evening at her home filled with insightful conversations about the importance of mental health for young children and how it begins with the mental well-being of their teachers.
On Saturday morning, as the teachers gathered for professional development, I took the opportunity to connect with each of them, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and friendship. Before the workshop began, we introduced The Feeling Friends music, a delightful collection of songs that provide strategies to help students understand and manage their emotions. The Feeling Friends music was perfect for the educators and our students for the day. We played Feeling Friends videos as participants entered our therapeutic, fun, and learning environment. This musical introduction, leading into our unconventional approach, created an atmosphere of warmth, care, and, most importantly, love.
I guided educators through their emotional journeys as the focus of my approach to professional development. I provided them with the knowledge, wisdom, and tools that allowed them to apply critical thinking skills for healing. A healed teacher is a strong teacher. Throughout our training, we engaged in meaningful conversations because teachers are often ready to release the burdens that weigh them down. There were many tears during this session, as we had created a safe space for open dialogue. Participants shared their pain, realizing that once they vocalized their feelings, they could take control and become the boss of their emotions.
We emphasized repetition and hands-on learning, placing the responsibility of their learning in their hands. We stressed the importance of setting expectations for any training session and revisiting these expectations at the end to ensure they are met. We filled this session with self-awareness, knowledge, and, most importantly, love. We created an emotional safety net for all and caught each other in moments of vulnerability. In these authentic moments and conversations, the healing began.
The most memorable moment of the day wasn't just the fine dinner we enjoyed afterward, a delightful spread of local cuisine that allowed us to continue our conversations. However, the true highlight was a text message I received from one of the participants. She thanked me for giving her everything she needed that day and shared that she was going to seek therapy. Knowing that we had another teacher on the road to mental wellness reaffirmed my belief that love is the most important feeling and the heart of The Feeling Friends and our work.
Sunday morning began with Bobbie picking us up at 6:00 AM, honoring us with a personal tour of NOLA. My favorite place was Crescent Park, a beautiful New Orleans space where I could watch the sunrise. After crossing the bridge, the view was spectacular, offering a complete panorama of the city. We then strolled through the French Quarter, buying souvenir hats that reminded us of our time in New Orleans. Our next stop was City Park, a green space larger than Central Park, adorned with a beautiful botanical garden. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, swinging in an old-fashioned swing, letting go of everything weighing us down.
While in Crescent Park, we indulged in beignets at Café Du Monde, an experience that epitomized the essence of being in New Orleans. Inspired by our successful weekend, I suggested we visit Dr. Lewis's house for a debriefing session. She welcomed us, and we spent the time reflecting on the weekend. We discussed what went well and what could be improved, and to our delight, there wasn't much that didn't go well. We all agreed it was an incredible experience for us and the participants. We were thrilled that the participants wanted more and were eager to extend the event into a community learning initiative. Our next steps include determining how to keep the emotional intelligence momentum going with these educators.
After the debriefing, we returned to the hotel and prepared to head home. The weekend was a remarkable experience in which educators and community members came together to nourish each other—with great food, knowledge, wisdom, and empowerment from self-awareness and recognizing our worth. We fed the educators emotional intelligence knowledge, and their satisfaction was palpable, leaving us with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Reflecting on this experience, I realized that the key to building stronger educators is addressing their emotional needs in a culturally responsive manner. By creating a safe space for them to heal and grow and providing culturally responsive information, we empower them to become their students' best versions of themselves, instilling a profound sense of confidence, capability, and love. This empowerment is not just a result of our work but a testament to the educators' resilience and dedication, inspiring us all to continue this important work.
In this chapter of my journey, I am more committed than ever to fostering emotional wellness among educators. This unwavering and steadfast commitment is the foundation for nurturing our children's mental health and success. It should reassure us of our positive impact on early childhood education.
תגובות