Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1400485
"It gave people a chance to process what was happening, and in some instances, it provided us the strength to continue." —NATALIE ABINANTE, vice president, Laguna Salada Education Association the unknown was scary. I also felt joy seeing my colleagues in a setting that wasn't a staff meeting." The circles include classified employees and administrators such as Julie Carrillo, director of special education and student services for the district. "We decided that we need to focus on the mental health of stu- dents — but we needed to put on our own oxygen masks first," says Carrillo. " The circles provide a safe space for that. It isn't therapy and it isn't a dumping ground. It is staff reaching out to other staff to provide camaraderie and support." Participants are encouraged to speak from the heart, listen to one voice at a time, be solution-ori- ented, and not take things personally. They share what makes them stronger or feel better. "My biggest benefit was fostering connec- tions and knowing I wasn't in this alone," says Abinante, who has a master 's in restorative practices and led the circles. "It gave people a chance to process what was happening, and in some instances, it provided us the strength to continue." The circles paused for the summer but will resume online this fall. RIVERDALE: Shedding weight (and isolation) T H I S S P R I N G , members of the Riverdale Teachers Association sponsored a "Pan- demic Pound Loss Challenge." President Doug Childress observes that colleagues had put on extra pounds from inactivity during the pandemic. But it wasn't just about the weight, says Childress, a fifth grade teacher at River- dale Elementary School. " The depression that comes with weight gain, as well as feelings of isolation in the new socially distanced workplace, was taking a toll." Teachers in the district's three schools formed teams consisting of teachers, administrators, clas- sified employees and school board members to see which team could lose the most weight, as in the T V show The Biggest Loser, over an eight-week period. Employees went power-walking together and shared Doug Childress walks off the weight. weight loss ideas. They held video chats and created motivational videos. (They occasionally "sabotaged" other teams by supplying them with free doughnuts.) Through such collaboration, healthy habits increased and isolation decreased. Connections between administrators, certificated and classified staff and school board members were strengthened. You might even say the participants became The Biggest Winners. "At the end of eight weeks, 76 employ- ees had lost over 550 pounds, and everyone had a great time," says Chil- dress. He lost 47 pounds and was the winner — but recused himself since he was overseeing the competition and hold- ing confidential weigh-ins. Thanks to his weight loss, he was able to zipline on his summer vacation. Cameron Mendez, choir teacher at Riverdale elementary and high schools, was the official winner, having lost 26 pounds. " This was exactly what we all needed to get ourselves on track, not only mentally but socially," 25 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 21 Natalie Abinante