Beyond Self-Care: Leading a Systemic Approach to Well-Being for Educators (A practical guide for K–12 leaders to create systemic change that fosters staff wellness)

So often, educators’ conversations about well-being begin and end with self-care, without addressing all aspects of educator wellness. Author Gail Markin explores the importance of well-being at individual, group, and system levels, as well as the role of leadership in supporting cultures of well-being. Using research-based practices and excerpts of conversations from working educators, Markin delivers a guidebook to healthier, more passionate schools.

• Understand why well-being matters in education
• Learn about research-based, SEL-focused self-care practices
• Improve their leadership skills to better support well-being in their school community
• Access real-world examples that illustrate how these practices work
• Build better systems to improve both personal and collective well-being

Gail Markin is a counselor and teacher who has worked to support health and well-being in her local school district in Langley Township, British Columbia (BC), and across the province. Gail began her career as a social worker, a family counselor, and a parent educator. After becoming a teacher, Gail worked as a school counselor in many different schools before moving to her current role. As an education consultant promoting staff well-being, Gail is particularly proud of a project she did in conjunction with BC Children’s Hospital, where she worked with rural and remote school districts to support health and well-being.
Gail is the chair of Social Emotional Learning BC and is part of the steering committee of the BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition. Gail is part of two amazing communities of practice that have helped shape her work: (1) the K–12 Staff Well-Being Network and (2) the Compassionate Systems Leadership Network. It is through these supportive and connected networks that Gail has developed her passion for spreading her message about the importance of well-being, which she does through writing, teaching, and speaking. Gail has written articles for the BC Superintendents Association, the BC School Counsellors Association, the BC Principals’ and Vice Principals’ Association, and the EdCan Network. Gail has also coauthored a book chapter for new school administrators with Dr. Fei Wang.
Gail is energized by speaking and presenting. As a big podcast fan, Gail has enjoyed being a podcast guest as well as a cohost of the Where You Are podcast. Gail is particularly proud of her 2019 TEDx Talk on the power of belonging.
Gail has two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees in psychology and education. She is working on a doctorate in leadership and policy at the University of British Columbia.