Mindfulness for Teachers

Patricia (Tish) Jennings, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness in education, and teacher well-being. A Professor of Education at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development, her research focuses on promoting well-being in K-12 learning environments. Her work has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for supporting school mental health and by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) for supporting adult SEL. A former teacher, school director, and teacher educator with over two decades of practical experience, Jennings brings deep insight to her work. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and several books. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2024 Joseph E. Zins Award from CASEL, the 2023 UVA Distinguished Researcher Award, the 2018 Cathy Kerr Award for Courageous and Compassionate Science from the Mind & Life Institute, and recognition by Mindful Magazine as one of “Ten Mindfulness Researchers You Should Know.” She also served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development.Noted neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel, MD, is clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute in LA. He is founding editor of the Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology.

"Patricia Jennings has topflight expertise in mindful education, and shares it with other teachers in a reader-friendly, useful way. Mindfulness for Teachers offers a suite of practical tools for building a more positive, compassionate classroom-one where teachers do their best and students can shine. This book deserves your full, mindful focus." -- Daniel Goleman, PhD, author of Emotional Intelligence "Mindfulness for Teachers draws on research, theory, and Patricia Jennings' extensive experience in education to present a very readable set of guidelines for creating a mindful and caring classroom. This impressive book should be required reading for teachers during their training. The ideas here will help any teacher develop a greater awareness and find greater joy and personal fulfillment in teaching." -- Mark T. Greenberg, PhD, Bennett Chair of Prevention Research, Pennsylvania State University "This book is a wonderful resource for teachers. Patricia Jennings has a real understanding of the challenges teachers face. Utilizing her strong foundation in mindfulness practices, she provides effective exercises and a wealth of information to support educators both inside and outside the classroom." -- Sharon Salzberg, Co-Founder of the Insight Meditation Society and Author of Real Happiness "This book provides strategies for all educators to use their emotional energy to their advantage. Bringing the myriad of ways that mindfulness is a timeless component of pedagogy to readers' attention, Jennings demonstrates how attuning to their own emotions will allow educators to fully engage as creative professionals with individual students. Mindfulness for Teachers emphasizes that to truly connect with the hearts and minds of our students, teachers must first sustain their own presence and wellness." -- Linda Rosenbury, Middle School Principal, New York City Public Schools "Jennings blends years of personal practice with classroom experience and research to create a pertinent resource for any teacher wishing to begin or enrich a cultivation of mindfulness. An understanding of the human brain, and its' reactions to stress, are provided as a pathway to guide teachers to build a self-care practice that acts as a model for students and a foundation for classroom wellness. Through refined attention to and mindfulness of daily habits and actions, Jennings illustrates how repeated forms of inquiry can operate as pedagogical techniques for learning." -- Jennifer Dauphinais, Magnet Resource Teacher, Quinnipiac STEM Magnet School, New Haven, CT "Essential information on a subtle topic, presented with clarity and simplicity, and beautifully written, Patricia Jennings 'gets it' about being a teacher. She has been there, and now she is back with a great story about the enormous value of mindfulness, and she has the evidence to back it up. Teachers, take one of your most valuable possessions-your time-to read this thoughtful and thorough book!" -- Robert L. Selman, PhD, Roy E. Larsen Professor of Human Development and Education and Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Harvard University