The Wimberley Education Foundation has funded a grant proposal for a wellness program for Wimberley Independent School District employees.
The grant request was in response to a spring survey that showed employees were interested in access to healthy snacks at the workplace, exercise and stress-reduction programs, and the availability of individual counseling sessions.
Brought forward by Sarah Myers, the Wimberley High School Wellness Center Coordinator, Lori Pharis, WISD Director of Student Support Services, Annie Wood, WISD District Nurse, and Jill Jacobs and Michelle Wilkes from Jacob’s Well Elementary, the grant writers engaged community organizations to help fill the requested needs and then asked WEF for the remaining support.
“When educators prioritize their well-being through practices such as stress management, adequate rest, and mindful self-care, they are better equipped to navigate the demands of teaching,” Mrs. Pharis said. “A teacher’s positive mental and physical health not only enhances their resilience in handling challenges but also cultivates a supportive and inspiring classroom atmosphere.”
To provide a monthly delivery of healthy snacks to all four WISD campuses, the district turned to a generous community organization who matched the $1000 that WEF funded.
“Traditionally this isn’t the type of grant that the WEF considers, but I thank them for recognizing the need and supporting our staff in this way,” Mrs. Pharis says.
The exercise and stress-reduction program was created with the help of The Greater Mercy Foundation who coordinated with instructors to offer a free weekly yoga class. An additional $1,000 of the WEF grant went to fund the yoga classes, which the foundation matched. Currently about 20 people are attending each session, with more room available for current and retired educators.
The largest financial piece of the WEF grant, $3,000, was to fund individual mental health counseling sessions at no cost to employees. Licensed mental health professionals Sally Fletcher, LPC-A, Gael Thompson, LPC, Rene Tenorio, LPC-A, and Summer Milam, LPC intern, generously agreed to work at a discounted rate. The demand for these sessions is higher than anticipated and additional funding is needed. To contribute to this initiative, email Mrs. Pharis at lori.pharis@wimberleyisd. net. For more information about the Wimberley Education Foundation, go to wimberleyisd. net/WEF.
