HIGH POINT, N.C. — What started as an idea is now reality.
“I said, ‘Why can’t we change the culture here and create an environment where our teachers and staff have the opportunity for physical movement, as well as to be able to have the opportunity to self-regulate their emotions throughout the day,’” said Ternale Robinson, assistant principal at Andrews High School.
What You Need To Know
The new Raider Recharge room at Andrews High School is just for teachers and other faculty
The school received donations from barbershops, churches and other businesses
A U.S. Department of Education survey finds 60% of teachers report burnout, 59% have frequent job-related stress and 19% experience symptoms of depression
The new Raider Recharge Room at Andrews High in High Point promotes physical and mental well-being for teachers and other faculty.
“Over here to the right, you have our cardio equipment all the way from ellipticals to the treadmill down to a stationary bike,” Robinson said. “Over here in the corner, you have our bench press.”
Robinson came up with the idea in March. Since then, several community groups, including barbershops, churches and other businesses, donated equipment and supplies to help the unique space come together.
“Teachers want to be somewhere where they are happy, where they feel loved, where they have opportunities to excel,” he said.
A U.S. Department of Education survey shows that 60% of teachers report burnout, 59% have frequent job-related stress and 19% experience symptoms of depression. Surveyors say the results are much higher compared with working adults in other industries. Robinson hopes the room will help with retention rates.
“The way you think, the way you feel about yourself is how productive you are going to be throughout your day, right,” he said. “With this recharge room, it gives more opportunity to come in here, have the physical movement, have your opportunity for self-regulation of your emotions, and then you perform at the highest level when you have for our most important stakeholders, which are our students each and every day.”
Robinson would like to see more schools follow suit.
“It was something that I wanted to build up, the community, the school community,” he said. “Now it’s leading to other people having interest and across the district wanting to do it as well.”