The daily routine of a school employee can be best summed up in one word- busy. From the moment they step into the door in the morning until the moment they leave in the evening, the to-do list of teachers, administrators and classified staff never seem to fully complete. Finding a few moments for relaxation and reflection is a rare luxury, but important to their health and well-being. With this in mind, Kinoshita Elementary School set out to create a room where its staff could comfortably enjoy those moments, and reenergize to continue to provide world class education.
Kinoshita had an a classroom that wasn’t being utilized that provided the perfect space for a staff Zen Room. Principal Jackie Campbell connected with Kat Satterley at the Orange County Department of Education, who works in the Educational Services Division on staff well-being projects. She helped with the funding and design of the room, along with OCDE’s partnership with Kaiser Permanente.
Designing the room was a collaborative process of the entire Kinoshita staff. Counselor Julie Chutuk and teachers Damon Ridgeway and Monika O’Kane were at the forefront, soliciting input from staff on how they would benefit from the space. Two key themes came to light- physical activity and stress management. Staff members wanted a space where they could decompress and recharge before, during or after the school day. The planning group went to work building out the space. There are massage chairs, a draped off seating area with adjustable lighting and calm spaces for relaxation. There are walking treadmills., yoga mats and free weights for exercise. Most importantly, this is not a space for work, only a space to reset. There will even be activities planned for the staff to come together for personal growth and camaraderie.
The Zen Room was officially unveiled to the Kinoshita staff on Dec. 17. The entire staff met in the MPR to share why the room was created and how it would be utilized for their benefit. Joining the celebration were Satterley, OCDE administrators Dareen Khatib and Stacy Deeble-Reynolds, and Kaiser Permanente Community Health Manager Cheryl Vargo. They congratulated Kinoshita on taking the initiative on staff well-being, and presented the school with an additional $1,000 donation.
See all of the photos from the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the room in the gallery below.
