Teacher

On this episode of Working Well, we speak with Jermar Rountree, a Pre-K through 8th grade health and physical education teacher at Center City Public Charter School, Brightwood Campus, in the Washington D.C. area. Center City School is a Title I school in a densely populated, lower-income area and has a little over 250 students, with approximately 50% identifying as African-American and 50% as Hispanic. Many of its students and their families face cultural and language barriers, but the school has achieved Tier 1, high performing school scores over the past few years. Mr. Rountree has been teaching physical education for 16 years and serves as the district teacher lead for the physical education and health department. He creates programs focused on fitness, nutrition, social and emotional health, and more. In 2023 he was named the D.C. Teacher of the Year and was also a finalist for the 2023 National Teacher of the Year. He spoke with NCSSLE Training Specialist Melanie Goodman about the social emotional learning activities he incorporates into his teaching, the importance of being vulnerable with students and sharing feelings, supporting his colleagues in their health and wellness journeys, having autonomy in the classroom, what sustains his passion for teaching, and more.0:33 - Introduction.1:22 - Importance of finding time to take care of yourself.3:50 - New change brought on by the pandemic.5:38 - Challenges at the system level.6:33 - How to rebuild a trusting and safe community.10:34 - Support from the school and administration.12:28 - What keeps him in the field and sustains passion.16:07 - Opportunities for professional development.18:58 - Staff well-being starts with leadership.21:55 - Final thoughts on this topic.23:13 - Effective solutions.24:34 - Final recommendations.29:19 - Closing.