Mindfulness and Education: We’re All in This Together
Margaret Meyers, MAT, CAEP, Mindful Schools Certified Instructor
Margaret Meyers, director of enrollment management at CBA and certified instructor through Mindful Schools, was featured as a guest speaker at the 2021 Virginia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association‘s (VBIDA) Virtual Spring Conference, and we are excited to share that her session is now available to the public.
Given the timing of her presentation at the height of the pandemic, Margaret’s focus was on our interdependence in the field of education, hence the title, “Mindfulness and Education: We’re All in This Together!” The reality is that we are all in this together, pandemic or not. Margaret emphasizes that the relationships we build with each other and with our school communities is the foundation of all of the work we do, whether we are parents, teachers, or clinicians. Children rely on the adults in their lives to have well-regulated nervous systems, and developing a mindfulness practice is one way we can ensure we show up for our students in ways that are most supportive. While it is important to learn teaching strategies that support students’ specific learning differences, Margaret reminds us of what she learned through her teachers at Mindful Schools…We are NOT the manual. We ARE the intervention!
The body of research on mindfulness and social-emotional learning continues to grow. This is certainly heartening for those who understand first-hand the incredibly powerful benefits of including explicit instruction on self-awareness, self-control, self-acceptance, and empathy and compassion for others in our educational and clinical settings. In her presentation, Margaret highlights skills that can be developed through a mindfulness practice: concentration, clarity, and equanimity. She also shares important information regarding the impact of toxic stress on students, educators, and parents.
Click here to watch her full presentation.
With much thought and intention, Margaret Meyers chose education as a second career. Having spent many years in and around school settings while her own two children were growing up, she understands the profound impact that educators can have on their students and communities and she was seeking truly meaningful work. Margaret earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and began teaching at Chesapeake Bay Academy in Virginia Beach in 2013. She then served as the middle school division director for four years and is currently serving as the director of enrollment management. Margaret has had a lifelong personal passion for self-development and has been specifically studying mindfulness for well over a decade.
Margaret Meyers, MAT, CAEP,
Instructor, Mindful Schools
