24
Turning Data into Action in Schools
This year, schools were invited to participate in a collaborative 
process to explore staff well-being, with 17 schools taking 
part. In partnership with divisional staff, principals supported 
conversations with their teams to reflect on their experiences and 
identify what was most important to them now.
“Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, we supported 
schools in curating their well-being work based on their specific 
context, priorities, and staff feedback,” said Gray.
Guiding the work were several key principles, including 
acknowledging current realities, engaging staff in planning, and 
focusing on  system-level change. 

What the Work Looked Like in Schools
Across participating schools, the work was shaped by local 
priorities, but shared common elements grounded in reflection, 
collaboration, and relationship-building.
In some schools, staff participated in strengths-based team 
activities, exploring how individual strengths contribute to team 
dynamics and how differences can sometimes create both energy 
and tension. These conversations helped build understanding and 
opened the door to more collaboration. 
Other schools chose to revisit and build on the original Guarding 
Minds data. Through facilitated sessions, staff shared their current 
perspectives, helping to determine what remained relevant and 
what had shifted. This feedback was analyzed and returned to 
school leadership to inform planning for the future.
In all cases, the process emphasized creating space for honest 
dialogue, reflection, and collective problem-solving.
“We wanted school leaders to understand that well-being is not 
an initiative, but it's embedded in everything we do, in all aspects 
of school planning and daily practice,” said Shauna Streich, 
disability case manager with The Manitoba Teachersʼ Society.

From Insight to Understanding
LRSD’s current focus on workplace well-being began with a 
desire to better understand the experiences of staff across 
the division. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and alongside 
broader provincial and national concerns about employee 
mental health, the division engaged in the Guarding Minds at 
Work survey in February 2024.
This research-based, confidential survey provided a starting 
point, offering a valuable snapshot of staff experiences across 
LRSD. 
“The findings highlighted many areas of strength within LRSD, 
including strong relationships, high levels of engagement, 
pride in the division, and a commitment to equity, diversity, 
and inclusion,” said Roza Gray, well-being consultant. “At the 
same time, the data pointed to an important opportunity for 
growth: strengthening systemic approaches to well-being.”
Since that time, the division has continued to build its 
understanding, recognizing that staff experiences and needs 
continue to evolve.

A Shift in How Well-being is Understood
This work represents a shift from traditional approaches to 
workplace wellness.
Historically, workplace wellness has often focused on 
individual strategies, encouraging staff to access services 
such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) or to engage in 
personal wellness strategies. While important, this approach 
alone does not fully address the factors that shape how people 
experience their work.
In LRSD, well-being is starting to be understood as something 
influenced by multiple interconnected layers:
•	 Individual experiences and circumstances
•	 The immediate work environment within schools
•	 Broader organizational and system factors
As a result, the division has focused its efforts on strengthening 
the day-to-day experiences of staff within schools, where the 
greatest opportunity for impact exists.

Across the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD), a growing focus on staff well-being is reshaping how schools 
support employees and students. In a time marked by increasing complexity in classrooms, workforce pressures, 
and rising mental health needs, the division is taking a thoughtful, proactive approach to strengthening 
workplace conditions and fostering supportive, connected school communities.
BUILDING HEALTHIER
WORKPLACES TOGETHER

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