AASA Launches ‘Live Well. Lead Well.’ Campaign: Initiative to Focus on Mental, Physical & Emotional Health of School System Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953
jminichello@aasa.org 

Alexandria, Va. – Nov. 23, 2021 – AASA, The School Superintendents Association, is pleased to launch the LiveWell. Lead Well. campaign, an initiative to provide support for public school district leaders as their school cultures are being threatened by the implications from the COVID-19 pandemic, racial inequities and threats of violence against their communities.

“Students who aren't well can't learn. Teachers who aren’t well can’t teach. Leaders who aren’t well can’t lead. We need to take care of ourselves so that we are able to serve those in our care,” said Paul Imhoff, superintendent of Upper Arlington (Ohio) Schools and the 2021-22 president of AASA. “We can't lead if we aren't well. The superintendency is not an individual sport, it is a team sport. We need each other. We need to lock arms and support each other.”

“Throughout this pandemic, school systems and the superintendents who lead them, have gone above and beyond to ensure the academic and emotional wellness of their students and staff,” said Shari Camhi, superintendent of Baldwin (N.Y.) Union Free School District and the 2021-22 president-elect of AASA. “School systems are all about the people and relationships within them. Ensuring their wellness ensures the wellness of our school community and everyone who is an integral part of that community.”

“We at AASA recognize that school system leaders need our support now more than ever before,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. “We are thrilled to introduce a new campaign focused on supporting the health and well-being of our school leaders. I am proud of our superintendents—America’s ‘champions for children’—as they continue to fight for equity, and the safety and welfare of the children they serve.”

AASA's Live Well. Lead Well. campaign is about providing superintendents and their staff with the tools and resources they need to help ease stressors of the job, support their important work, show appreciation for their leadership and fuel their spirit to keep them moving forward.

• Monthly opportunities for district leaders to connect with colleagues and focus on self-care.
• A Wellness Center at AASA’s 2022 National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tenn.
• Crisis communications materials and templates to help school systems address key issues in their communities.

For more information about the Live Well. Lead Well. campaign, visit the AASA website.

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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.