It was a tragic event during Becky Halamka’s high school counseling career — a student suicide — that profoundly impacted her and brought to light the need for better mental health support within the educational community.

“It was very clear to me in that moment that I wanted to provide mental health support for others,” said Halamka, a counselor in Negaunee Public Schools who is leading the way with her dedication to uplifting educator mental health. “I could have benefited from it myself. It was a very tragic time and just being able to process it with someone and be able to return to the building for students would have been very helpful.”

Halamka, originally a physical education teacher, set out to address the mental health needs of educators in her district, driven by a deep sense of empathy and a desire to make a difference. She was determined to develop an avenue to provide specialized care to educators.

In addition to the tragedy in her district, Halamka understood the toll that everyday life takes on educators. She had navigated the extended military training of her husband, the loss of a family member, and the return to work after two six-week maternity leaves during her career – just a sample of what educators experience in their personal lives while still needing to go to school and be resilient for the children. Her personal experiences contributed to shaping her trajectory toward a renewed focus on mental health support for educators.

Charting a path for educator mental health

With a background in physical and health education, Halamka’s journey to becoming an advocate for mental wellness among educators has been fueled by personal growth and resilience. Her passion for promoting lifelong health and well-being is coming to life this fall with the launch of Superior Educator Wellness Services, a counseling service tailored to the unique needs of educators and funded by a state grant.

Halamka established Superior Educator Wellness Services and secured state grant funding through her school district for the 2024-2025 school year to provide mental health and wellness support to educators, free of charge. Her initiative aims to assist educators in managing burnout and personal stress while acknowledging the secondary trauma that educators often face but may not receive adequate support for.

“Educators have very high expectations of themselves and can have a difficult time if they don’t meet their own expectations. I can help them set realistic goals and expectations and give themselves grace if they don’t meet them,” Halamka said. “The behaviors of children are different and deep. If teachers do not feel support, it can be difficult to address those behaviors. It can feel like you are climbing uphill.”

“Secondary trauma is there for educators, and I don’t think people acknowledge that enough,” she added. “You can only hear so many sad stories before you start to feel fatigued and it starts to wear on you. Teachers carry such a heavy burden.”

Though the launch of services did not officially take place until the start of this school year, the district called on Halamka’s expertise in early summer to help an educator in crisis. Becky was contacted by the district in hopes she could support a staff member that was struggling and needed support quickly. She was able to meet with the staff member for six weeks using goal-oriented therapy and support the member’s immediate mental health needs.

Preventing burnout

Negaunee Superintendent Dan Skewis acknowledges the unique challenges of today’s educators.

“We hope to prevent burn-out with this partnership,” Skewis said. “Districts have done a nice job making sure their students are taken care of, but oftentimes, staff is overlooked and working with Superior Educator Wellness Services will allow our staff a resource to better assist with the grind of public education.

“I don’t see this being a one and done type of situation,” Skewis added. “Our hope is to develop a long-term relationship with Superior Educator Wellness Services.”

Heather Holman, Principal of Lakeview Elementary, acknowledges the significance of this support system for educators. She emphasizes the profound benefits it can offer in terms of addressing trauma fatigue and providing specialized mental health care for those who work in education.

Holman looks forward to the benefits these services will provide for educators.

“This is the first opportunity where there is acknowledgement that although a healthy diet, exercise and meditation are all important ways to care for your mental health, things like trauma fatigue require more specialized support that will now be available from Superior Educator Wellness Services,” she said. “Having the option to offer this opportunity for teachers that come to me looking for more support than I can offer is a huge relief knowing how invested Becky is in this community and its wellness.”

The ‘ripple effect’

Allyson Solander, a Negaunee kindergarten teacher, applauds Halamka’s vision for improved educator wellness and anticipates the positive ripple effect it will have on students. By supporting educators in achieving a better work-life balance and managing emotional challenges, teachers are better equipped to create a nurturing environment for their students. Solander also expects these efforts will set a precedent for other districts to prioritize mental health support for educators, nurturing a culture of well-being and growth.

“Our district implements Capturing Kids’ Hearts and does all that we can to uplift students and show that they are loved and supported,” Solander said. “We take emotional health seriously with many SEL professional development trainings. With Becky’s vision, we will be able to support our teachers in the same way. We are beyond lucky to have Becky – she makes a difference daily in the lives of our students, educators, and staff,” she said.

Healthier work-life balance

Taylor Maki, a special education teacher, echoes the sentiments of the impact Halamka’s services will have on both educators and students. By providing resources and support to address mental health challenges, educators can create a healthier work-life balance, ultimately enhancing their ability to support students effectively.

“This is going to benefit students because teachers and other educational staff will be able to receive services to help their mental health,” Maki said. “Staff improving their mental health can help students regulate and manage their mental health. Educators will be able to find balance with work-home life, help manage stressors they may encounter in the school setting, etc. This also will be funded by the district, so it is not at the staff’s expense.”

Halamka explains that, ultimately, her goal is to expand her services beyond her immediate community. Her aspirations include creating a team of counselors with backgrounds in education who have a deeper understanding of the current challenges educators face. As educators find solace and support through Superior Educator Wellness Services, the hope is Halamka’s dedication will inspire similar initiatives in other districts, ensuring that those who nurture young minds are themselves nurtured and cared for.

“I really feel passionate about supporting educators in the Upper Peninsula. We are a unique population in a rural area that may not have as many resources as in other areas,” she said. “I also know this specific resource often isn’t available in more populated areas of Michigan. The goal is to help people, and that will ultimately help our kids.”