I need funding to participate in Breathe For Change, a research-based professional development course that will certify me as a Wellness Facilitator, and help me improve the social-emotional wellness of my students and staff.
Hello! My name is Deena Spuryer, and I have the privilege of working for our school district as a student services support teacher for homebound instruction. I teach students who are confined at home, in a health care facility, or alternative placement for periods that would prevent normal school attendance. I love that each of my students are unique and require individualized education that is designed specifically for them. Due to COVID, I find that interaction and social networks with my students has become sparser and student and teacher levels of stress, anxiety, and loneliness has increased, as compared to before the crisis. Students on homebound instruction that are not able to attend traditional virtual or in-person instruction are even more vulnerable succumbing to worries about health, family, friends, and their future. These specific worries, isolation in social networks, lack of interaction and emotional support, and physical isolation are challenging. I love the joy and purpose my students bring to my life. They are wonderful individuals with the capability to conquer the world with the right support, guidance, and support for their diverse health and emotional needs. My students are special and each one has a purpose.
My Project
As a teacher who maintains long term relationships throughout children's education, I feel an urgent need to learn effective strategies that will help my students learn how to be the best they can be.
Learning wellness tools like mindfulness and yoga empower students to take care of and advocate for themselves.
These tools will help our students cope with the current trauma that has been so devastating as we have moved to virtual-online learning.
This project will help cover the cost of the Breathe For Change training program which will help me build on what I know about mindfulness. This program will also enable me to share the positive change I've experienced with future students, as well as my district as a whole.
Breathe for Change is a wellness training program conceived by educators for educators. Upon graduation from Breathe for Change, I will become certified to lead wellness and social-emotional learning programs at my school (both for students and for other educators). Additionally, I will earn a nationally recognized RYT-200 yoga teacher certification. This program enhances the well-being of educators, students, and greater school communities by training educators in meaningful areas of meditation, philosophy, anatomy, social-emotional strategy, and yoga practice.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Spuryer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.