This course is about maximizing effectiveness of professionals so they can effectively support their students.  It is designed to get at the heart of identifying and reducing the areas that can typically interfere with the ability to function professionally and effectively.  This requires learning and practicing communication and wellness skills for turning stressers into opportunities for professional growth and contribution.

The skills explored in this course indicated as critical building blocks in the Illinois Social and Educational standards, are targeted to support healthy student-teacher relationships as well as parent-teacher, and administration-teacher interactions.  These interactions are inevitably challenged by the stresses of disagreements and requirements to engage in difficult conversations.

Central to this course is understanding emotions -one's own and others - as a base for learning skills of effective listening, communication, conflict resolution, and goal-setting.

Since emotions are the "motivators" and "movers" in our lives, the belief systems which produce these emotions are identified through the use of a Life Style Inventory.  Each style is explored in terms of the rational and irrational beliefs that stem from it.  

Since body awareness is the built-in stress indicator in life, the whole area of body management is woven throughout the course.  Breathing exercises, meditation, and relaxation techniques are practiced.  The importance of exercise in promoting wellness is discussed and stretching exercises are performed daily as part of the class routine.  Insights from these investigations and experiences support participants to clarify short and long term wellness goals.

Teachers bring these insights and skills back to their students and to the heart of their professional practice so they can be increasingly effective in serving a myriad of student needs.