The Benefits of Mindfulness

 

Mindfulness
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For the past two decades, Dr. Nancy Coogan has successfully served in educational roles that range from assistant principal and principal to executive director and superintendent. Moreover, Dr. Nancy Coogan has authored several research papers that assess the use of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in schools.

One of Dr. Coogan’s research articles, “Becoming a Mindful Superintendent in a Turnaround District,” was published in the Open Journal of Leadership in 2015. The article posits that mindfully serving students and families nurtures resilience in school superintendents, especially in light of the many challenges they face.

In addition to benefiting performance, mindfulness practices can provide a range of professional, therapeutic, and individual benefits for those who undertake them. In addition to helping manage emotions and improving focus, mindfulness can augment physical health and manage pain. In terms of mental health, mindfulness can improve moods, manage anxiety, and empower individuals to control their own behaviors. Moreover, practicing mindfulness can help build self-confidence and treat emotional suffering.

Study Examines Benefits of Mindfulness for Superintendents

Dr. Nancy Coogan

A former superintendent for the Tukwila School District in Tukwila, Washington, Dr. Nancy Coogan has more than two decades of experience in academia. Dr. Nancy Coogan has conducted research on the benefits of mindfulness in the education sector and contributed to multiple publications on the subject.

She co-authored a paper for Scientific Research Publishing titled “Becoming a Mindful Superintendent in a ‘Turnaround’ District,” which examined the positive impacts of mindfulness in leadership positions. Over the course of two years, Dr. Nancy Coogan and her associates studied the experience of a new superintendent charged with leading the turnaround process in an urban district. The role of superintendent involves navigating an abundance of challenges relating to employee turnover and turnaround politics while handling a broad range of responsibilities. Results of the study concluded that while high-stakes accountability can foster change, a mindful approach to serving students and families builds resiliency more efficiently.