The work nobody could see

The work nobody could see. A school principal on the pressure of leading through the pandemic, and the practices that helped her stay in the role she loves. Jean Cunningham is the principal of a special school in Navan and the founder of Cairde Coaching; Cairde being the Irishword for friends. She is a positive health coach working with children, teenagers and adults. In March 2020, Jean found herself sitting at her kitchen table trying to run a school of 125 children and support a staff of 54. When the school reopened, the work continued well beyond the school day: Saturday calls with the HSE, close-contact lists, worried families and the responsibility of keeping a vulnerable school community safe. Jean knew she needed something that would help her manage the pressure. That search eventually brought her to positive health and the MSc in Positive Health Coaching at RCSI; work she says allowed her to remain in principalship. In this conversation, we talk about the practices that became part of Jean's own life, and how she began bringing some of them back into her school. We also talk about the particular pressures facing young people and their families, what Jean has learned from coaching teenagers, and why social connection — from close relationships to the smallest everyday interactions — matters so much. In this episode The unseen work of leading a special schoolthrough COVID Why the pressure led Jean to positive health,lifestyle medicine and the PERMA model Micro-moments of positive resonance and thevalue of everyday social connection How a ten-minute meditation practice became part of a demanding working day - and how Jean brought meditation and sound baths into school What Jean has learned from coaching teenagersand their parents about fear, friendship and belonging The particular pressures facing parents of children with additional needs, including the social connection they can miss Why wellbeing practices don't eliminate bad days; but can change how quickly you recover, and how you live with what you can't fix The smallest step Jean recommends: find a friend, talk to them and share the load Chapters 00:00 Introduction 04:26 Managing fear and protocols in a special school 10:49 The work nobody sees 12:41 Self-care and mental health practices 15:59 Positive psychology and the PERMA model 19:13 Micro-moments of positive resonance 23:14 Bringing meditation and sound baths into school 28:24 Coaching parents and teenagers 34:21 Small habits that make a difference 43:14 Young people’s fears, friendship and resilience 50:41 Bad days, resilience and what practice can’t fix 57:11 The next smallest step: sharing the load About Jean Cunningham Jean Cunningham is the principal of a special school in Navan and the founder of Cairde Coaching. Her work blends positive psychology, lifestyle medicine and a compassionate,strengths-based approach with children, teenagers and adults. Find Jean on Instagram: @cairde_coaching Find Jean on LinkedIn About the show What's the Next Smallest Step? is a podcast about lifestyle medicine, positive health, and the small habits and bigger ideas that change a life. Hosted by Shauna Garvey, PhD, Positive Health Coach, EMCC Senior Practitioner and founder of Éistim Coaching— Éistim being the Irish word for “I listen.” Connect with Shauna on LinkedIn Find out more about Éistim Coaching A note for listeners The experiences and views shared in this podcast are personal and are not medical advice. Health conditions and responses to different approaches vary between individuals. If you have concerns about your health or are considering significant changes to its management, please speak to an appropriatelyqualified healthcare professional.