Teachers are exhausted and face unprecedented burnout. The rapid pace of change in the world requires agile problem solvers, but stressed brains can't take on more work. So we cultivate JOY. Joy insulates us from stress. It puts the brain into action mode rather than flight mode. The Joy Lab reinvigorates teachers and helps them apply their expertise to improving teaching and learning.
The Joy Lab is a highly flexible, transportable professional development model that brings educators together -virtually or in-person- to tap into the power of JOY. This is done through a series of self-reflections, activities, and feedback rounds with peers:
1. Educators reconnect with their purpose.
2. Attendees identify areas of stress/frustration as well as JOY.
3. Educators choose a frustration and design a possible solution. According to Dr. Elissa Epel's book The Stress Prescription, "Feeling in control of our lives helps us regulate emotions & be more resilient. When it comes to managing stress, we need to be able to feel a real sense of control when we can."
4. Attendees tap into the power of JOY to fuel their work as changemakers, finding strength and support to work through their challenge.
This simple process gives educators control, improving their mental health AND the world around them. It's universally accessible when given the time and support to do the work.
It's just starting. There are three Joy Labs scheduled for the summer of 2024, two in North Dakota and one in Minnesota. The beauty of this process is that like EdCamp, any school or community could host their own JOY LAB. To run a lab you need a space, a time, and a group of educators open to collaboration and connection. Schools/districts could easily host Joy Labs for staff PD; groups of teachers can connect in a sort of Joy Mastermind. The basic steps, outlined above, can be facilitated by anyone capable of modeling a joyful mindset.
Ideally, every community would have a JOY LAB, not only for educators but for students, parents, and the community. A place where people come together to solve challenges and uplift each other.
Email darcy@educatorslab.io! While that sounds overly simple, I'm excited to work with anyone to help spread the JOY!
