Education is a Human Endeavor
From its inception, TeachWell has framed education as a deeply human endeavor. Our work has always sought to elevate the relational aspects of the education profession—something too often overshadowed by the bureaucratic demands of master schedules, assessments, and academic mandates. But the truth remains: relationships are not just adjacent to learning; they are how learning happens.
Advances in neuroscience affirm what many of us have long known intuitively: the brain must register safety and belonging before it can fully engage in learning. When we center the human dimensions of education, we open the door to deeper conversations about equity, neurodiversity, and trauma-informed practices—conversations that are essential to the future of education.
At TeachWell, we believe that recognizing our shared humanity inevitably draws attention to the social-emotional intelligence and well-being of educators. These are not “soft skills.” They are essential human skills—and they must be central to professional development. As we shared in Be Well. Teach Well: A Guidebook to Support and Advance Educator Wellbeing:
“Equipped with greater knowledge and skills to navigate the relational aspects of the teaching profession, educators gain greater agency to be more responsive and less reactive—to the demands of their workload, to the stressors of a caring profession, and to the complexities of their relationships. This recognition of agency increases efficacy, reduces stress, and helps educators stay connected to their purpose. The desired outcome is not just resilience—but personal vibrance and brilliance. This sense of well-being in educators directly impacts the academic success and emotional health of the students they teach.”
TeachWell’s advocacy for relational, human-centered education has always been purposeful, thoughtful, and strategic. And as I expand my work beyond TeachWell, my commitment to honoring and celebrating our humanity deepens.
In this moment—when AI is quickly becoming a key player in our collective future—we are being called to reckon with what it truly means to be human. We find ourselves in a swirl of questions at the intersection of science and spirituality: What is essential about being human? What can only we offer? What does it mean to live and lead from that place?
The same passion that brought me to school social work, and that led me to create TeachWell, is the passion that moves me on the dance floor, that inspires me to (try to) sing, and that fuels my drive to help, heal, and spread kindness wherever I can. Humans are radiant—and also messy. Over the years, mindfulness practices like gratitude, joy, and compassion for self and others have deepened my heart, opened my spirit, and grown my capacity to embrace both the complexity and the beauty of our shared humanity.
Ruth King’s words, “nothing is perfect, personal, or permanent,” have become a kind of compass for me—guiding me through the complexities of parenting, aging, and bearing witness to injustice with more wholeness and grace. And I’ve come to understand this: when I am grounded in that wholeness, I have more to offer.
What brings you joy simply for the sake of being alive?
What are the practices, passions, or places where you feel most connected to your full humanity?Where in your life do you feel called to bring healing or kindness right now?
What small act could you take today to live into that calling?How have the “messy” parts of being human shaped your compassion—for yourself or others?
Can you recall a time when embracing imperfection allowed you to grow?What mindfulness practices help you come back to your center when life feels overwhelming or uncertain?
How might you bring more consistency or intention to those practices?Who in your life models radiance and wholeness for you?
What do you admire about the way they navigate the world?