Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut are two Albertan teen sisters who started their company, Small Bits of Happiness, three years ago. Their mission is to help individuals of all ages find more happiness in daily life. As two teens, they understand firsthand the difficulties of teenage-hood, including not only the hormonal changes that teens undergo, but the added stressors of war, post-pandemic life, and beyond. Through their podcast, Hack Your Happiness, the two sisters have spoken to countless Olympic Athletes, entrepreneurs, Oscar-winners, Grammy-winning composers, New York Times Bestselling Authors, marine biologists, NASA scientists, NASCAR drivers, CEOs, and beyond. Through their conversations Mercedes and Anastasia have learned critical advice from these iconic individuals, specifically on the topic of happiness and advice to teens and pre-teens. As many pre-teens and teens struggle to take advice from parents and teachers, in this session, Mercedes and Anastasia share top happiness advice from top iconic individuals, as well as their perspective on finding happiness as two teens. Mercedes and Anastasia share how teachers and educators can guide students to building happy habits, and practicing wellness - all from the perspective of a teen, and iconic interviews.
- Digital learning platform for building happiness habits- Happiness-wellness products designed by teens for students. Including an activity box featuring 100 unique, simple, and fun things to do to feel happier daily, learn what brings students happiness, and connect a classroom... Read More →
Friday April 11, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Assiniboine
Teaching is one of the most rewarding yet demanding professions, often leaving educators feeling stretched too thin and on the brink of burnout. This session dives deep into the science of teacher wellness, equipping educators with practical, evidence-based strategies to maintain their health, boost resilience, and foster a sustainable work-life balance.
We will explore the five pillars of teacher wellness—emotional, physical, professional, social, and cognitive—while integrating actionable research from psychology and neuroscience to support these strategies. Highlights include:
Emotional Wellness: Learn how mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs, shown to decrease teacher burnout by 30% (Roeser et al., 2013), can help regulate emotions and improve focus in the classroom. Physical Wellness: Discover time-efficient strategies to incorporate movement and proper nutrition during a busy school day, supported by research linking physical activity to reduced teacher absenteeism (Chen et al., 2015). Professional Wellness: Explore cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tools for managing perfectionism and setting boundaries, empowering teachers to say "no" when necessary without guilt. Social Wellness: Build support networks through strategies like "peer wellness pods" and community check-ins, inspired by studies showing the role of collegiality in reducing stress (Hakanen et al., 2006). Cognitive Wellness: Engage in lifelong learning and creative outlets to combat "teaching fatigue" and rediscover passion in your profession. Participants will also experience interactive activities, such as creating a personalized "wellness map" to identify stress triggers and develop tailored solutions, practicing micro-mindfulness exercises proven to reduce cortisol levels in as little as five minutes (Davis & Hayes, 2011), and role-playing scenarios to develop assertiveness and healthy communication.
This presentation isn’t just theory—it's packed with practical tools and inspirational success stories from the field. Attendees will leave with a wellness action plan, tips for integrating these strategies seamlessly into their daily lives, and a renewed sense of purpose and balance in their teaching journey.
If you're ready to transform the way you approach your career and your well-being, join us for this empowering session on staying well while teaching well.
