After reading this module's resources on self-care, burnout, and compassion fatigue, my key takeaway is that self-care should be mandated throughout the school community.

As a teacher, my job responsibilities were overwhelming. Often I worked 10-hour days and on weekends. I was a single mom and this made my home life challenging. For years, I burned the candle at both ends and as a result, two years ago I became very ill when my esophagus shut down overnight. After this, I left the classroom.

Now, I see teachers tired, disgruntled, frustrated. I hear many of them discussing plans to leave education next year. I understand their concerns. They are justified. In my position of student guidance support, I have a different perspective of how our school hierarchy works. I see more clearly everyone's defined roles and responsibilities. I believe implementing a mandated "self-care" program for our entire education community would benefit everyone and cut down on burnout, compassion fatigue, and student behavior concerns. This program would need to be included into the school day for it to be successful. I teach yoga and mediation outside of work and offer after-school group sessions to teachers. The ones who come, reap the benefits but only a small percentage show because it is after school. For this reason, I feel a self-care program would deliver the greatest impact if it was included during school hours for all staff members I realize that this is a tall feat and it would challenge the current education content model, but self-care is important. It is our first priority, no matter our career field. Our society beats to the tune of "go go go or more more more". Mandating a program that gives all education family members the opportunity to restore and prioritize self-care could definitely decrease burnout and compassion fatigue. I feel all districts across Texas would feel the benefits of such a mandate.