How Mindfulness Applies in the Educational Setting

 

Dr. Nancy Coogan

Dr. Nancy Coogan is an education administrator in Washington State. Also a dedicated educational researcher, Dr. Nancy Coogan maintains an interest in mindfulness in the school setting and has published multiple articles on the subject.

Mindfulness is an introspective state wherein individuals remain focused on the present and observe feelings without labeling them as either good or bad. Mindfulness promotes living in the moment, as opposed to dwelling on past misfortunes or anxieties about the future.

From an educational perspective, mindfulness enables school administrators to navigate leadership challenges and balance responsibilities effectively. Mindful administrators learn the importance of authenticity, self-acceptance, and full engagement in the present to prevent complacency.

In the classroom, teachers and educators use mindfulness to cultivate awareness and keep students engaged. Mindfulness meditations help students improve their ability to concentrate by rooting them in the present and teaching them to regulate their emotions. Mindfulness also benefits students with mental or behavioral challenges that hinder their performance.

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.

How Mindfulness Techniques Can Influence Education

Mindfulness
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Recently overseeing the Tukwila School District as superintendent, Dr. Nancy Coogan exceeded expectations at her post, including developing and implementing a race and equity policy in the State of Washington, which is now used as a national model. Always researching new practices and theories relating to education, Dr. Nancy Coogan is a supporter of mindfulness in the classroom, gaining traction with districts around the country.

Current research is starting to explain the importance of teaching emotional self-awareness, as well as mindfulness to improve student and teacher relationships. The modern education system has caused many young people to fall into a pit of toxic stress, which can be mitigated by mindfulness practices, such as meditation.

Mindfulness teaches students to be aware of thoughts, emotions, and the environment, by nurturing positive outlooks and relaxation. By erasing many of the mental loops caused by stress, such as dissociation, narcissism, and a sense of being overwhelmed, students can develop self-control, emotional strength, and better memory, by taking the time to meditate for as short as ten minutes during class.

Today, mindfulness practices have shown to help children handle many mental problems, such as ADHD, anxiety, or excessive aggression.