Meet Chanelle Walker (Formerly McCloud), the Teacher Wellness Guru. She inspires educators to greatness through professional development that’s about them; and it’s done from a teacher’s perspective. In a day and age where we’re practicing a new normal for our schools, some are now getting a sample of what educators experience. But teacher fatigue has been a brewing pandemic long before Covid-19.
Educators suffer from burnout, stress and not enough time in a day. It’s what Chanelle refers to as “The Elephant in the Classroom,” as she so eloquently presented to a packed house at a Case Western Reserve University TEDx Talk.
She spent more than a decade in the classroom and an additional 5 years in other educational settings. Chanelle serves as CEO of Professional Inspiration, the company she founded 10 years ago that hones in on the source that drives individuals to push harder toward their desired results bringing purpose to the surface. Once that purpose is walked in, she teaches how not to become walked over.
She’s harnessed her skills as a content developer and course facilitator to cultivate curriculum for teachers on the subject of wellness across the country. Chanelle’s accolades include, but are not limited to a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and a Master’s of Education from Notre Dame College. She’s a two-time “Who’s Who in Black Cleveland” award recipient and adjunct professor at Ashland University. Chanelle is currently working toward attaining her doctorate in education.
This session will be co-led by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative (CBHTI). Participants will learn about IDPH’s work to support children’s health and children’s mental health across the state, including information about the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership, which is newly housed at IDPH. The session will also discuss the implementation of the Blueprint for Transformation: A Vision for Improved Behavioral Healthcare for Illinois Children, with a focus on strategies for improving child well-being by strengthening families, schools and communities. The session will provide an overview of the BEACON care portal and work to develop the foundation for mental health screenings in schools. The session will highlight successes in improving interagency coordination and community engagement and identify next steps to ensure that transformational changes impact Illinois students.
