Caring for the Caretakers: SBOs Need Wellness Plans Too!

 

How to create a comprehensive wellness plan for you and your team.

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ASBO International

 Published December 2025

With the mission of ensuring the wellness and safety of their staff and students, school business leaders are caretakers in the truest sense of the word. Although they work daily to alleviate the emotional stresses and pressures faced by those working in the school buildings and classrooms—the mental, physical, and emotional challenges that district leaders must navigate themselves are often simply dismissed as “part of the job.”

What wellness initiatives are in place for you and your fellow education leaders? Putting a comprehensive wellness plan into practice will not only strengthen individual and group physical and emotional health, but also enrich the district’s organizational structure, function, and leadership, as well as increase empathy, compassion, and sensitivity among colleagues.

Use district and community resources to ensure there is an accessible and comprehensive wellness plan for school administrators:  

 

  • Invite community-based medical personnel to discuss how to recognize health-threatening symptoms and what to do if they arise. 

  • Ask a member of the district’s psychology or counseling staff to address stress-related and emotional issues. 

  • Learn about practical fitness and exercise program options from members of the district’s health and physical education staff. 

  • Produce weekly wellness reminder emails that go to all district employees, including administrative leaders. 

  • Incorporate wellness discussions into every district management team meeting agenda. 

  • Coordinate with the food service director to provide healthy snacks at team meetings. 

  • Investigate the possibility of discounted or free memberships at local fitness centers. 

  • Offer positive recognition for team members who participate in formal or informal exercise programs, lose weight, lower blood pressure, or otherwise improve health. 

  • Provide a confidential go-to person in the event of personal or family crisis, anonymity guaranteed.

Treat yourself and your leadership colleagues with as much care as you treat your students and staff by providing a comprehensive wellness program in a safe and supportive environment.

Being a school business leader can sometimes be a stressful job. Treat yourself and your leadership colleagues with as much care as you treat your students and staff by providing a comprehensive wellness program in a safe and supportive environment.

  

   

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