A renovated room at Valley Springs Middle School is helping teachers find a few moments of tranquility in an otherwise active school day.
This morning, the school officially opened its Serenity Room, a relaxing space where teachers can work - or simply recharge themselves - during planning time in their day.
“This is a great space to have in our school,” shared science teacher John Jackson. “We’re planning on having our team meetings here. It’s a great space to help inspire us, and bounce ideas off of each other.”
The nonprofit Christos Foundation, with support from Biltmore Church, provided funding for all of the room’s furnishings. The organization is also providing coffees and snacks, based on teacher requests.
“They surveyed our teachers to ask them what they would like - what snacks, drinks, and other things are important to them,” said Principal Amy Rhoney. “It shows our teachers that we have community partners that care about them and the work they’re doing. It’s good for teachers to take a break for a few minutes in their day to reset, just like sometimes we ask our students to do.”
This is the second Serenity Room the Christos Foundation has donated to Buncombe County Schools. The first opened at Koontz Intermediate nearly two years ago.
“Teachers are such a vital and valuable part of our community,” says Katie Cannington of the Christos Foundation, who once served as a teacher. “We saw a need for a way to show love in action, and give teachers a space built around what they wanted.”
The Serenity Room features a “Gratitude Wall”, where teachers and staff members can publicly thank colleagues who have demonstrated extreme kindness and dedication. There’s also a cabinet stocked with teacher supplies.
“We really want to make the day a little easier for teachers,” said Meredith Williams of the Christos Foundation. “If they run out of anything, they can scan a QR code posted in the room and we’ll have it restocked within a week.”
The Christos Foundation is looking at providing Serenity Rooms in other schools in the future.
