The Superintendent Who Got Yoga Certified: Dr. Barbara Malkas on Ending Chronic Absenteeism Through Educator Wellness

What happens when a superintendent watches her teachers burn out and decides to get 200-hour certified in yoga instead of handing them another curriculum?Dr. Barbara Malkas, the 2024 Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year, transformed the post-pandemic education crisis. And her secret wasn't stricter policies, better test prep, or a new academic program. It was three deep breaths.When Barbara saw her educators completely fried in 2021, she made a radical choice: she trained with Breathe For Change, opened up her school library on Friday afternoons, and invited her staff to join her on the mat. What started with 10 teachers doing yoga together turned into a district-wide movement that changed everything.The results were remarkable: an 11% drop in chronic absenteeism, a Golden Basketball Award from the Boston Celtics for ranking in the top 10 for attendance statewide, and a fourth-grade classroom that went an entire year with zero disciplinary referrals. Perhaps most powerful? Third-graders started asking each other, "Are you angry or frustrated right now?”The data tells a clear story: when we invest in human intelligence, emotional regulation, self-awareness, empathy, and connection, schools transform in measurable ways.In this episode, Barbara breaks down why educator wellness is a must-have, how to implement SEL practices district-wide (even with pushback), the difference between human intelligence and artificial intelligence in education, and what it really means to regulate before you educate.If you're an educator feeling the weight of burnout, a parent worried about your child's engagement, or a leader wondering how to create real, lasting change: this conversation is for you.You can't pour from an empty cup. But you CAN fill it back up. And Barbara shows you exactly how.Episode Timestamps0:00 - Intro: The Golden Basketball & what mindfulness did for attendance1:57 - How it all started8:30 - Leading Friday yoga in the library13:47 - From a small pilot to 46 certified teachers districtwide15:16 - Caring for the whole educator, not just the whole child19:00 - The data: fewer office referrals, faster de-escalation, better attendance26:00 - How to get buy-in from teachers, parents & school boards32:57 - Handling skeptics & navigating the controversy around yoga in schools43:30 - Human intelligence vs. AI48:55 - Barbara's legacy & what's next after 36 years in education