Spring 2017

This spring break, make time to learn about healthy living

When you work for a school district, you do a lot to support your students and your community. This spring break, consider giving yourself a little TLC, too.

Now in its sixth year, the Oregon School Employee Wellness Conference puts you front and center, bringing three days of wellness seminars, inspiring presentations and rejuvenation activities for educators to the Riverhouse in Bend.

Presented by OEA Choice Trust and sponsored by education and healthcare organizations including OEBB and Moda, the conference delivers practical advice on how to start and foster wellness programs for employees at the school and district level.

“This is for people to gather with their tribe, learn something that they’re excited about and then take it back to their worksite,” said conference presenter Jessica Culver, manager of healthcare services for Moda Health.

Organizers say the event is a great way to network, earn continuing education credits and discover best practices for wellness in schools. It’s all part of OEA Choice Trust’s mission to make sure that that the 100,000 people who work in Oregon schools are healthy, resilient and able to champion wellness in their communities.

“There’s something for everyone,” said Carrie Townsend, an event specialist from Moda who has helped plan the conference for several years running.

The breakout sessions at this year’s event include how to use mindfulness to promote overall well-being, how to build a schoolwide wellness program, and how to talk to your colleagues about burnout. You can also learn how a grant from OEA Choice Trust can help your school system boost its employee wellness programs. See the full agenda here.

“This is for people to gather with their tribe, learn something that they’re excited about and then take it back to their worksite...”

One of the conference highlights Townsend said not to miss is the opening reception, a casual happy hour with music and mingling on Sunday night.

“So many great connections are made there,” she said. “It’s a casual environment, and a lot of networking goes on.”

For example, if one school system got a grant from OEA Choice Trust for a wellness program two years ago, they might share their success stories and lessons learned with another district that’s just getting started.

And since this is a wellness conference, there are plenty of fun ways to get moving throughout the event. Look for group runs and walks, yoga classes, Zumba sessions, cooking classes and other activities to inspire healthy living.

“It’s a way to keep people active and engaged throughout the conference,” Culver said. “We want to give them a bunch of ways to expand their horizons through different types of engagement in wellness.”

If you go

What: 2017 Oregon School Employee Wellness Conference

When: Sunday, March 26-Tuesday, March 28

Where: The Riverhouse, 3075 N. Highway 97, Bend

How much: There is no admission fee, but attendance is limited to 250 and advance registration is required. A limited number of $100 scholarships are available to help with travel costs. Submit your scholarship request when you register.

More info: To learn more about how OEA Choice Trust supports wellness in schools, visit oeachoice.com.