Worksite Wellness in the School Setting

Abstract

Schools exist for children. Indeed, in Olathe District Schools, the first of five guiding principles is “children first.” Facilities, resources, materials, and programs are developed around this principle. Human resources, specifically classroom teachers and various support staff, are considered the most important asset in the education of students. As a result, schools employ an increasing number of individuals in todays workforce. However, school districts lag behind other major employers in the provision of worksite wellness for their employees. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of employee wellness and its application to the school setting. A future Nursing Practice Management section article will discuss the initiation of a school employee wellness program, applying the Comprehensive Health Education Model.