An Ecological Approach to Wellbeing | A Conversation with Lori Cohen

What if the secret to transforming your school culture wasn't another initiative, but learning to tend to it like a terrarium? In this episode, Shane talks to Lori Cohen about her revolutionary ecological approach to wellbeing in schools. Rather than treating wellbeing as just another programme, Lori introduces a powerful terrarium metaphor that shows how all elements of school culture work together as an interconnected ecosystem.

Lori Cohen is an experienced school leader, instructional coach, and education consultant with over two decades in education. She's co-author of "Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders."

Key Takeaways

Wellbeing as Soil, Not Another Plant

• Educator wellbeing is the foundational soil from which all other school improvements grow
• Without healthy soil, nothing else can truly thrive

Ruptures Are Necessary for Evolution

• Change requires some things to break down before they can be rebuilt stronger
• What needs to "die" so something better can emerge?

The Fractal Approach to Change

• Start small and deep rather than broad and shallow
• Focus on one dimension rather than trying to fix everything at once
• Allow successful patterns to naturally replicate and scale

The Eight Dimensions of Collective Wellbeing

1. Wage satisfaction and transparent compensation
2. Job stability and role clarity
3. Workload management and equitable distribution
4. Autonomy and self-efficacy
5. Inclusion in policymaking and decision-making
6. Community care and leadership modelling
7. Emotional intelligence (individual and collective)
8. Strong, supportive relationships that can be built, sustained, and repaired

Resources and Links

Connect with Lori:

• Lori Cohen on LinkedIn
• Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders by Lori Cohen and Elizabeth Denevi (Routledge)

Additional Resources Mentioned:

• Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Episode Partner

The International Curriculum Association: Learn more

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

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