This past year, I served as a co-principal of Tindley Preparatory Academy, an all-boys charter school in Indianapolis. If you have ever worked in a school you understand how boys can be. Also, anyone who has worked in a middle school understands how difficult middle school can be. Imagine having both middle school and boys. Oh, did I also mention that I was a first-year principal. There were a lot of stressful, anxious days until I found mindfulness. Then it was mindfulness that helped me eventually help my students.
The first time I took an online course on mindfulness, I knew this was something that I needed to practice more often. Sometimes I would practice my anchor words, word tracing, and work on controlling my breathing. Then there would be days where I would just stop, sit, pause, and reflect and be in tune with the emotions I was feeling. This was the informal practice of mindfulness. It was that training that allowed me to change the course of the school year for one of my most difficult students, whom I’ll call Terrance, and me.
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