Portledge in the Now.

Prioritizing Wellness

Health and wellness have been a community-wide focus for Portledge over the last several years. One of the most meaningful initiatives to grow out of our Building, Leading, Learning Strategic Plan is the Faculty Wellness Committee, developed in alignment with Goal 4: supporting and sustaining the adults in our community. Now in its third year, the committee continues to expand, offering a wide range of wellness opportunities designed to support the health, balance, and connection of our faculty and staff.

From lunchtime yoga and morning HIIT classes to walking groups, massages, and even Tai Chi, the committee has created thoughtful, accessible programming that encourages employees to care for their own well-being—something educators often put on the back burner. “It’s a chance to shut off, even for just 30 minutes, and recharge,” Erica Tettemer, World Languages Department Chair and Chair of the Wellness Committee, shares. “If we can offer an opportunity for release every once in a while, it keeps people happy, and then they bring their best selves to their work.”

These moments are not only restorative but also build connections across departments and divisions. This spring, new initiatives included a pickleball clinic, outdoor hikes, a “Panther Tracks” walking app, and more! The addition of personalized workout plans and peer-to-peer accountability has increased participation and created routines that stick. “I started coming to HIIT once a week,” Holliday Harrigan, Upper School Math teacher, explains. “Now, I look forward to it—it’s become a part of my week, and I’ve met colleagues I’d never worked with before.”

Mike Powers, Head Athletic Trainer and Health & Wellness Department Chair, leads weekly HIIT classes for faculty and staff. “As a fairly new employee, it's been a great way to get more comfortable with the community,” he says. “It’s a way to engage with colleagues in a different way that leads to more collaboration elsewhere.”  

The work of the Faculty Wellness Committee goes beyond fitness; it’s about creating space for connection, motivation, and self-care. Every yoga class, hike, or gathering reminds us that a supported adult community is essential to the thriving of our entire school. 

Committee Members
Carolyn Chiu
Traci Douglas
Holliday Harrigan
Michael Powers
Jessica Schulteicz
Erica Tettemer
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