Summer Renewal for Educators
As we step fully into spring and the final quarter in the school year, most educators are looking forward to finishing the year and the promise of summer. It is an opportune time to reflect on the growth of our students as well as ourselves. Where have we witnessed success? What challenges have we overcome? How do we want to grow as professionals? Pausing to tune into the breadth of the school year can feel like a luxury, but it is an essential step in refining our practice as educators.
Spring is also a time when many educators realize we have depleted our inner resources and are feeling overwhelmed, burned out, and exhausted. In the current political climate, these feelings may be amplified. Educators, as professionals, have typically been celebrated for going above and beyond, working late, working at home, volunteering for every committee and event, and always putting ourselves last. This is a recipe for illness, burn out, resentment, and loss of passion for our work and is a tenet of our profession that needs to change.
While we cannot change the entire system alone, we can address our own priorities and behaviors. Mindfulness practices are tools that can support us in shifting the way we approach our work, care for ourselves, and show up in our own lives. Incorporating mindfulness practices into our daily lives provides opportunities for us to pause, breathe, regulate our nervous systems, and make thoughtful decisions about our choices. There are many ways to practice mindfulness including breathing, stillness, movement, time in nature, art, tuning into our senses, expanding our perspectives, and more.
Learning which mindfulness practices support us in various situations takes time and practice. The Mindfulness for Educators Retreat is a perfect opportunity to explore these practices, rest and nurture our minds and bodies, and discover how our own needs can be supported so that we can show up in our lives in alignment with our values. As caregivers, educators tend to show up for everyone but ourselves. This retreat is an opportunity to both show up for ourselves and allow ourselves to be supported by others.
We invite you to join us to explore and expand your capacity for attention, emotional balance and compassion in and out of the classroom. Our time together will support you in bringing a mindful presence to your personal life and professional work in schools.
We look forward to spending time in community with you this summer.
Lisa Vratny-Smith, MSW & Andra Brill, Ph.D
Co-leaders, Mindfulness for Educators Retreat
Mindfulness for Educators Retreat
June 22-26, 2025
Drala Mountain Center
Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
Reviews from previous participants:
“It had resounding effects on this school year. The spring of last year I hated going to school and was considering early retirement. This year due to the reset and skills learned at the retreat I not only am feeling in a better place this year, I enjoy coming to school. I can laugh off stress and appreciate every day and find reasons to be grateful.” ~ Cynthia S.
“I have been able to develop habits and routines that support me in being more mindful, such as meditation, yoga, journaling, going outside, and even running. I’m much happier professionally as well and while I attribute that mostly to my truly wonderful group of kids, I also think that engaging in mindfulness practices both outside and inside the classroom is part of it!” ~Emma N.
“The time I spent in the retreat allowed me to pause and listen to my inner voice. It gave me permission to spend more time on myself, and helped me become aware of my needs, which I had ignored for so long. Since then I have initiated more regular practices to support my emotional and physical health.” ~ Mary H.