Working Well: A Teacher-Mentor’s Perspective on Well-Being.

In partnership with the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)

Posted April 25, 2024 by, Mindi Wisman

Today we highlight the latest interview in our Working Well podcast series, which is part of our work with NCCSLE. This series is the by-product of several roundtable discussions with a variety of researchers and educators to gain a better understanding of the well-being practices being implemented by educators across the country. The aim of the roundtables was to learn how expanding staff well-being practices could support the overall conditions for teaching. The aim of the podcasts is to better understand how an investment in educator well-being can improve student success.

In this conversation, Melanie Goodman speaks with Kathy Nimmer, who was a high school English teacher for 29 years in William Henry Harrison public school in Indiana, a high school of approximately 1900 students. Kathy was Indiana’s Teacher of the Year in 2015 and is now mentoring new teachers. Kathy is also blind. She discusses how she characterizes her disability, her reverence for teachers, the ups and downs of her own classroom experience, how a windy day led to her first guide dog, and her unique approach to mentoring.

I wouldn't say I was anyone's favorite teacher because I was blind, but I was people's favorite teacher because I was Kathy Nimmer. I was real, and the blindness was one part of it.

Hear the rest of our illuminating conversation with Kathy here.

And below are two favorite books and one podcast that Kathy recommends as additional resources.

Teacher's Field Guide: 7 Truths About Teaching to Help You Start off Strong, Avoid Burnout, and Stay in Love with Teaching, by Kerry Hemms

“One of the best teaching books that I lean into that focuses on resilience and wellbeing.”

Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact, by Meghan Lawson

“This book looks at the teacher as the whole person; the individual who needs to be ok in order to be the educator kids need.”

The Happiness Lab, by Dr. Laurie Santos

“When I think of a podcast that feeds my soul, I think of The Happiness Lab. This podcast focuses on how happiness can be developed, nurtured, and protected.”

Reminder: Listen to Kathy here

To learn more, you can reach out to Kathy at knimmer@tsc.k12.in.us

In Case You Missed It: the previous installment of this series was an inspiring interview with Texas Superintendent Georganne Warnock, which you can listen to here.

Also see the Working Well Resource Directory we created for administrators, teachers, and other staff.