Burnout, stress, and emotional fatigue have become all too familiar in today’s educational landscape. The Educator’s Guide to REST offers a lifeline as a grounded, evidence-informed, and emotionally resonant guide for teachers who want to rediscover their purpose, find joy in their work, and create sustainable practices for resilience and well-being.
Developed from years of classroom experience and action research, REST (Resilient Educator Support Team) is a 12-module framework built around the idea that educators need practical, compassionate tools and supportive communities. The flexible 12-module format is suitable for individual, classroom, or professional learning community use. It addresses self-awareness and emotional intelligence; mindfulness and stress management; building strong relationships; purpose and passion; adaptive thinking and problem-solving; self-care and well-being; self-compassion; optimistic outlook; building resilience through play; celebrating educators; and sustaining resilience and moving forward. Interactive tools are throughout, including reflection prompts, resilience assessments, and mindfulness practices.
Supported by data collected across the US, this guide weaves together personal stories and mindfulness, emotional intelligence, neuroscience, and practical strategies. It’s not just theory; rather, it’s a call to action to make teaching a more sustainable career.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction to Resilience 2. Developing Self-Awareness and Managing Emotions 3. Mindfulness and Stress Management 4. Building Strong Relationships 5. Professional Purpose and Passion 6. Adaptive Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills 7. Self-Care and Well-Being 8. Self-Compassion 9. Optimistic Outlook 10. Building Resilience Through Play 11. Celebrating Educators 12. Sustaining Resilience and Moving Forward
About the Author :
Stephanie Letourneau is a veteran public-school educator, college adjunct professor, curriculum developer, and professional development leader with over two decades of experience spanning K–12 and higher education. She currently teaches high school health education while serving as an adjunct professor at Merrimack College, North Andover, MA.
Review :
"The Educator’s Guide to REST is a practical, heartfelt resource for cultivating resilient learning communities. Stephanie Letourneau weaves adaptable mindfulness-based learning practices into an interactive experience with purposeful reflections, activities, and intentional pauses. She integrates her personal classroom experiences to show how joy and well-being can be embedded into the school day. This book is an asset for educators, teams, and schools seeking to build healthy, connected, and thriving communities."
Lindsey Frank, M.Ed., President of Educating Mindfully, Author, Mindfulness-Based Learning Specialist
“Stephanie Letourneau’s The Educator’s Guide to REST is a gift for educators and their students. With lived examples and data, practical tools and strategies, any educator starting out or with decades under their belt, will find relief and restoration in these pages.”
Christopher Willard, Harvard Medical School, author of Alphabreaths and Feelings are like Farts
“At a time when teaching is becoming more and more stressful, The Educator's Guide to REST is a critical support. In it, Stephanie Letourneau provides teachers with important concepts and actionable strategies to help them build resilience and manage their mental health. And many of those ideas can be easily shared with students should the reader so-choose. This book will improve schools for both students and staff. Highly recommended!”
Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., M.S., author of Overcoming the Wall of Awful©
“This book is a beautiful example of how one educator's lived experience and choices about her own well-being can inspire and support those who are looking for ways to NOT leave the profession. Letourneau gives educators hope and guidance through the tangible strategies that they can apply to both their personal lives and their professional roles. It was an honor to be a witness to the Action Research initiative that helped to prove that REST works!”
Dr. Kelli Sammis, Founder of The Pranayama Group
“Finally, a guide that speaks honestly to the real struggles that today’s educators face! Offering practical, research-backed solutions, Stephanie Letourneau provides readers with a comprehensive toolkit grounded in a genuine understanding of what teachers face on a daily basis. The interactive format and data-driven insights make this essential reading for any educator seeking sustainable well-being while striving to remain in the profession they love.”
Brent T. Wright, M.Ed., Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs, School of Education & Social Policy Merrimack College
"The Educator’s Guide to REST by Stephanie Letourneau is a compassionate, research-based resource that offers practical strategies grounded in personal experiences, mindfulness and neuroscience. This guide supports teacher well-being through accessible, restorative practices. It’s not just professional development —it’s personal development that empowers educators to create sustainable, mindful habits in and out of the classroom. A must-read — definitely five stars."
Dr. Kathryn Welby, Educator, Author, and Researcher
