In today’s fast-paced educational environments, resilience is not just a nice-to-have but an essential quality for educators and leaders. The Resilience Journey at Coalinga High School, spearheaded by School Wellbeing Solutions (SWBS), showcases a powerful example of how schools can actively support the well-being of their staff while fostering a positive and productive work culture.
Coalinga High School, like many others, was facing a host of challenges—from educator burnout to declining optimism and staff turnover. To address these, Principal Sheila Diaz partnered with SWBS, aiming to create a sustainable framework for mental health, leadership resilience, and workplace well-being. The ultimate goal? To nurture a school environment where leaders and staff thrive—both professionally and personally.
The Resilience Journey is built on a foundation of the Resilience at Work (R@W) model, a scientifically researched tool that measures individual resilience in the workplace. SWBS’s approach includes:
The impact of the program was tracked through pre-and post-surveys of the staff. One of the standout successes? A remarkable 88% improvement in staff turnover intentions. Educators were not only more committed to staying in their roles but also reported improvements in emotional and mental health, work-life harmony, and relationships with colleagues.
However, the journey was not without its challenges. The survey revealed a slight decline in optimism among staff (-5%) and an uptick in feelings of burnout. While this shows there is still work to be done, these insights provide a clear roadmap for future interventions—targeting the root causes of stress and promoting more optimism and resilience.
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from adversity—it’s about thriving in the face of challenges. The staff at Coalinga High School learned how to cultivate psychological safety, nurture positive relationships, and adopt well-being practices that not only make their work lives more enjoyable but also support the students they serve.
At the heart of this initiative is the understanding that happy, resilient educators lead to better outcomes for students. And when schools invest in the well-being of their staff, they create environments where everyone can thrive.
Coalinga High School’s Resilience Journey is far from over. As they prepare for Phase 2, the focus will be on deepening the gains made in burnout resilience and optimism while continuing to build a positive school culture that supports the mental health of its leaders and staff.
SWBS’s work with Coalinga is a testament to the fact that resilience can be taught, learned, and embedded into the very fabric of an organization. By doing so, schools not only improve retention and satisfaction but also create a ripple effect that positively impacts students, staff, and the broader community.
For more insights on fostering resilience in schools and organizations, get in touch today!
Download the 2025 Collective Impact Report to see the data-backed strategy that reduced Turnover Intentions by 13.20% and dramatically improved Psychological Safety in 10 school districts.