MB Teachers Unplugged

Episode 1 – Introducing MB Teachers Unplugged!

Episode 1: Why the heck is MTS doing a Podcast? & Gender Equity in Education

Join us for the launch of MB Teachers Unplugged, the official podcast of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. Zach Schnitzer he/him, former EAP Counsellor, now host, is joined by Anne Bennett she/her (5:28), department head of Communications and Contact Services at MTS to discuss why MTS is now branching out into this customizable, accessible, interactive, and fun medium. They talk about the state of Manitoba educators’ mental health and why now is the time for a podcast. Then Zach shares a bit about himself (16:43), including his own personal mental health journey. Finally, Lia Gervino she/her (22:18), Staff Officer in the Professional & French Language Services Department pops on to chat about her work to promote women in educational leadership positions. Lia also shares information on the MTS events Women in Educational Leadership (WEL) Symposium, Leaders Write, and Femlightenment.

Remember to subscribe on all your favourite podcast apps and tell your colleagues about MB Teachers Unplugged, so we can continue to build connections and create community.

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

Resources:

1. HumanaCare: MTS HumanaCare – The Manitoba Teachers' Society (mbteach.org)
2. Free resource from CMHA for teachers. You can call and speak to Wellness Support Specialist who will guide you to the appropriate resource: Care for All in Education: Home - Care For All In Education
3. Almost MTS members can use Blue Cross, which provides $1500 per calendar year for counselling from a range of practitioners: Clinical psychologists, clinical counsellors, marriage & family therapists, psychotherapists, and social workers.

Episode 2 - Healing Through Teaching, with Virginia Birch

Episode 2:  Healing Through Teaching, with Virginia Birch

Manitoba First Nations Education & Resource Centre Numeracy Specialist Virginia Birch shares how she blends cultural teachings and her graduate training in counseling psychology to empower teachers in Manitoba's First Nations Schools and explains the intersection between cultural teachings and anticolonial mathematics. She also shares some of the unique realities that face Indigenous educators in Manitoba and how they can support their well-being, as well as how we can all engage in effective allyship. Virginia also discusses the effect of the unearthing of graves in Kamloops-affected communities. Finally, Virginia leads Zach through a visualization exercise called the Canoe Journey (34:46). Please note that some of what Virginia shares may be triggering depending on your background or experiences, particularly the canoe visualization. Do what you need to do to maintain safety, whether that's listening to this episode more slowly, listening with a support person, or skipping certain sections altogether.

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

Resources

1. Book: Equity-Centered, Trauma-Informed Education by Alex Shevrin Venet
2. Book: The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate Teaching by Patricia A. Jennings
3. A directory of groups and programs organized by or for First Nations, Inuit and Metis people: https://www.gov.mb.ca/inr/publications/pubs/indigenous-organizations-in-manitoba.pdf
4. Indigenous Cultural Healing Supports: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/files/covid-19-indigenous-cultural-healing-supports.pdf
5. Principles respecting the Government of Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/principles-principes.htm
6. Coping with Emotional Reactions https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/coping-emotional-reactions.html
7. National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation https://nctr.ca/
8. Truth and Reconciliation, Calls to Action http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf\
9. Reconciliation Education http://www.reconciliationeducation.ca/
10. Jordan's Principle https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1568396042341/1568396159824
11. National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Health Support Services https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1548700698392/1548701361628
12. First Nation Approaches to Traditional Medicine https://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/Documents/Traditional_Medicine_web.pdf
13. First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework https://thunderbirdpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/24-14-1273-FN-Mental-Wellness-Framework-EN05_low.pdf
14. Indigenous Circle https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/chapters/indigenous-circle/
15. Pathways to healing: A mental health toolkit for First Nations people http://www.shared-care.ca/files/EN_PathwaystoHealing.pdf
16. Indigenous Allyship Toolkit http://ncnw.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/F-HNHB-IHN_Indigenous-Allyship-Toolkit-1-1.pdf
17. First Nation Perspective on Wellness https://www.fnha.ca/PublishingImages/wellness/wellness-and-the-first-nations-health-authority/first-nations-perspective-on-wellness/FNPOW.png
18. We Matter - Indigenous Youth Toolkits https://wemattercampaign.org/toolkits/youth, https://wemattercampaign.org/toolkits/mini-toolkit

 

Episode 3 – Don’t Suffer in Silence: How MTS Can Help, with Réjean LaRoche and Diana Swain

Episode 3: Educator Wellbeing in Rural & Northern MB

In this episode, we're examining educator wellbeing in rural and Northern Manitoba. We’re going to be joined by two guests: Réjean Laroche he/him (2:48), Staff Officer in the Teacher Welfare department who discusses the role of Teacher Welfare staff officers and provides a labour perspective on working in rural & northern MB, followed by Diana Swain she/her (37:00) who teaches grade 8 at Berens River School, is a Wellness Chair for Frontier School Division, and member of Berens River First Nation.

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

Resources:

1. PENT Program: Program for the Education of Native Teachers (PENT) | Brandon University
2. Indigenous Peoples’ Centre at Brandon University: Indigenous Peoples' Centre | Brandon University
3. University College of the North Indigenous Student Centres: Student Centers - University College of the North (ucn.ca)
4. University of Winnipeg Aboriginal Students Centre: Home | ASSC | The University of Winnipeg (uwinnipeg.ca)
5. University of Manitoba supports for Indigenous Students: Student experience | Indigenous | University of Manitoba (umanitoba.ca)
6. Université de St-Boniface Reconciliation initiatives: A Dialogue With the First Nations - Université de Saint-Boniface (ustboniface.ca)

Episode 4 – Hanging onto the “Before”: Teaching and Identity, with Marley Dewar

Episode 4: Marley Dewar

Marley Dewar, they/them, talks about the realities of teaching when you are part of the 2STLGBTQIA+ community. Marley, who identifies as gender non-binary, teaches grade 6 at Hartney School in the Southwest Horizon School Division, near Brandon, MB. Marley touches on the intersection of gender diversity and working in a rural environment; how people in the 2STLGBTQIA+ community are more prone to mental health and suicidality; how using pronouns can actually save lives; what allyship means; the state of homophobia and transphobia; the responsibility they feel to support and create safe spaces for others in the 2STLGBTQIA+ community; what gives them hope; and much more.  

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

Resources:

1. Manitoba government has the Safe and Caring Schools but specifically a document on how to support Trans and Gender Diverse Students: https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/support/transgender/index.html
2. Egale is a legal framework that does research and has many different resources on its website. This is by far the best website when it comes to resources. It has everything from learning opportunities to how to help students understand and support a peer who starts their transition: https://egale.ca/
3. Still in Every Classroom - which was a joint project with the University of Winnipeg and Egale. This link is a follow-up to a similar study done 10 years ago, this study should be read by every teacher who wishes to know the realities of their 2SLGBTQIA+ students. There is also a link to compare the original survey to the updated results: https://egale.ca/awareness/still-in-every-class/
4. Every Teacher Project, similar to the Every Classroom this study focused on teachers and their experiences. This study has not been updated since the original but still very relevant today: https://egale.ca/awareness/every-teacher-project/
5. SERC is another great resource and they do workshops for students and PD for teachers (at least in Brandon and surrounding areas): https://serc.mb.ca/
6. MTS Pride Lesson Plans, I helped create these lesson plans. Specifically the ones for middle school students: https://www.mbteach.org/mtscms/2018/04/17/lgbtq-lesson-plans/
7. Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario: https://www.etfo.ca/socialjusticeunion/2slgbtq
8. Rainbow Resource Centre: https://rainbowresourcecentre.org/

Episode 5 – Beyond Multi-Culturalism: Walking the Walk of Anti-Racism, with Sherry Jones

Ep 5: Educators Who Are Racialized

Zach sits down with Sherry Jones she/her to discuss how educators who are racialized are affected by and can navigate barriers to wellbeing and equity. Sherry is a former principal now Staff Officer in PFLS and we happen to sit next to each other on the 2nd floor. Sherry delivers professional learning on antiracism, develops workshops for beginning teachers for Celeb 5, is a liaison with provincial faculties of education, is the MTS rep for the Equity and Social Justice as well as the Teacher Education and Certification Standing Committees, is part of Labour School, as well as Equity and Social justice and Professional development for the Metro area. She's also one of the founders of the Educators of Colour Network and is involved in the Newcomer, Education Coalition, and many other organizations on behalf of MTS.

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

1. Resources:
2. BIPOC MENTAL HEALTH WORKER LIST (ninecircles.ca)
3. Manitoba Psychologists who offer services to racialized individuals:
   • Drs Natasha Ali 431-478-1144 humanresiliency@gmail.com
   • Rehman Abdulrehman 204-615-1580 http://clinicpsychology.com
   • Alicia Ordonez 204-612-1129 dr.ordonez.p@gmail.com
   • Maggie Penfold 204-775-5521 dr.maggie.penfold@gmail.com
   • Kathryn Ritchot 204-415-6767 dr.kathryn.ritchot@gmail.com
   • Meera Chohan 204-230-0667 dr.meera@hotmail.com
4. Educators Of Colour Network Manitoba:  educatorsofcolour@gmail.com
5. Books: Allies and Advocates, by Amber Cabral and Inclusion on Purpose by Ruchika Tulshyan.

Episode 6 – Courageous Compassion, with Lisa Bayless

Ep 6: Self-Compassion for Educators

Zach is joined by Lisa Baylis, author of the recent hit teacher mental health book, Self-Compassion for Educators: Mindful Practices to Awaken Your Wellbeing and Grow Resilience. Her book talks about the AWE Method — Awakening the Wellbeing for Educators — which merges self-care, mindfulness, and self-compassion She is a high school counselor, facilitator, instructor and mom, and the author who has been sharing wellbeing strategies for the last 20 years. A natural born connector with an innate ability to make people feel valued and heard. Lisa has a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. She has taught internationally and locally. Much of her vast teaching experience was gained in classrooms across British Columbia — from Fort St. John to the Comox Valley. Currently, she is a high school counselor in the Greater Victoria School District.

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

Resources:

1. http://self-compassion.org
2. Books: Self-Compassion for Educators by Lisa Baylis
3. The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Dr. Kristin Neff & Dr. Chris Germer

Episode 7 – Teacher Take Care: A Mental Health Journey for Educators, with Jennifer Lawson and Richelle North Star Scott

Episode 7: Teacher Take Care

Zach is joined by local educators and innovators Dr. Jennifer Lawson she/her and Richelle North Star Scott she/her as they discuss their new book Teacher Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators from Portage & Main Press. Featuring many Manitoba authors and MTS members, this is a must-read teacher mental health book. It is comprehensive, eclectic, local, real, and is truly embedded in Indigenous ways of knowing.

Tell us what you think of this episode:

Email: MBTeachersUnplugged@mbteach.org

Social: @mbteachers on Instagram and Twitter: @manitobateachers on Facebook

Resources:

1. Book: Teacher Take Care, edited by Dr. Jennifer Lawson

MTS PD Day Talk with MATE

Why are Special Area Groups of Educators (SAGE)  important?  Connecting with colleagues and choosing the PD that will help you learn about new trends and strategies in education are just some of the benefits of attending a conference.  Join Elizabeth Bourbonniere, the President of the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English as she unpacks how her professional learning has been enhanced by her involvement in MATE.  Also, Elizabeth will share some of this year's conference highlights. Who knows, you might be the teacher who inspires the next Slam Poet or Winnipeg's next Poet Laureate!