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World Mental Health Day 2026: How 16 Teachers Prioritize Their Own Mental Health and Self-Care

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                                    [Image Description: The graphic is light green with my First Former Buddy Club President logo in the bottom left corner. "Circle of what Teachers Can and Cannot Control" is in center-aligned italicized bright teal text.  "Our contributions to staff morale", "Our instructional preparation and strategies", "How much we work outside of classroom hours", "Our willingness to continue learning", "How we show up as role models", "How we advocate for our students", "How we act in and outside of work", "How we stand up to workplace bullies", "Our purpose", "How we respond to students' behaviors, challenges, crises, stress, and unexpected disruptions", "How we take care of ourselves", "Following job responsibilities, policies, and laws especially the Professional Code of Conduct for Educators", "Boundary setting...

How 17 Paraprofessionals Prioritize Their Own Mental Health and Self-Care

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[Image Description: The graphic is purple with A Para Pro's bright green and black logo and my First Former Buddy Club President logo from top to bottom in the bottom left corner. There is a brown desk with 4 gray legs attached to it. A mint green mug filled with steaming coffee, a pencil, an orange notebook, a pink affirmation card that says "You can do hard things" in left-aligned italicized dark red text on it, a light blue affirmation card that says, "Mistakes are how we learn" in left-aligned italicized dark blue text on it, a lavender affirmation card that says, "Be kind to yourself" on it, and a lime green affirmation card that says, "Every expert started as a beginner" on it are on top of the desk. ]     I worked as a paraeducator, specifically a Personal Care Assistant (PCA), in 4th-6th grade Life Skills Support in Lower Moreland Township School District in Hunting don Valley, Pennsylvania  where I am an alumnus in the 2024-2025 scho...

Your culture matters

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[Image Description: The graphic taupe with my First Former Buddy Club President logo in the bottom left corner. "Your culture matters..." is in center-aligned italicized bright red text at the top of the graphic. "No matter how much oppression you face" is in left-aligned bright red text below a volcano. "No matter how you identify" is in left-aligned bright red text below a tomato can. "No matter what your skin color is" is in left-aligned bright red text below a tan skinned hand holding a dark-skinned hand. "No matter which language(s) you do and don't speak" is in left-aligned bright red text below a speech balloon. "Even when you do or don't have an accent" is in left-aligned bright red text below a silhouette of a speaking head. "No matter which foods you do and don't eat" is in left-aligned bright red text below a taco. "No matter which holidays you do and don't celebrate" is in left-a...