Curriculum developer Morven Inglis, BA, Dip. Teaching, Dip. Ed, M.Ed.

Morven Inglis

Morven Inglis is a recognized pioneer in the field of wellness education. She has been a workshop designer and trainer for teachers, counsellors, community partners, parents, and students.

Creator of numerous school-based wellness resource centres and teams
Developer of customized wellness workshops designed for youth and adults through delivery of teacher training and mentorship

Qualifications

B.A. (Geography, 1967); Dip. Teaching (1968); Dip. Ed. (Thesis: “Dyslexia,” 1972) (New Zealand)
M.Ed. (Leadership and Administration, 1989, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)
Hilroy Fellowship (Canadian Teachers’ Federation, for Innovation in Teaching, 1993)
Coach: Life Saving, Swimming, Field Hockey, Tennis

International work experience

New Zealand: Personnel Officer, Industry; Teacher—Social Studies, Geography, English

United Kingdom: Acting HOD, James Gillespie School for Girls (Edinburgh); Education Welfare Officer, Inner London Education Authority

Borneo: Brunei Darussalam Water Village School (Awang Semaun), Teacher—Geography, Social Studies

Canada: Teacher—Geography, Social Studies, English, Physical Education, Interpersonal Communication Skills, Peer Counseling; Counselor; Department Head, Student Services; Staff Committee Chairperson; Field Guide/Practicum Supervisor for University of Victoria Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Nursing, Psychology, Education, and Counseling programs

My Philosophy

There is a tendency in schools to be reactive, have a patchwork of approaches and to parachute in an “expert” or a “special program” to fix things.

Such a focus on piecemeal and ad hoc initiatives for addressing barriers to learning, development and teaching (e.g. drug/alcohol use, sexuality, suicide prevention, bullying prevention, mental health) doesn’t change anything and can make matters worse.

This gives an illusion of treatment. A planned, integrated strategy with coordinated services is necessary to produce better health and education outcomes. Strong, consistent connections and united themes do make a difference.

To be able to cope, students need to develop meaningful relationships in their school community. Social-emotional factors affect learning so a school should be a protective force in students’ lives. The school culture, classroom climate and peer relationships are critical to the whole.

Beginnings of a Comprehensive School Health Model

In 1979 I attended a workshop that introduced a Wellness Wheel Model that could be incorporated into health education. Finally there was something that made sense and could be adopted by a school community.

Over a number of years, I built curriculum around the Wheel centrepiece, in-serviced staff at my school and staff in the neighbouring elementary schools, gave workshops at the district and provincial level and to community partners. I believed that a whole school approach to health would make a difference. This was a challenge. A paradigm shift takes a long time to implement.

Colleagues requested materials so I began to develop the “Wellness: A Question of Balance” curriculum package. I have spent 30 years designing, testing and revising the curriculum. The result was a comprehensive school health approach supported by solid curriculum.

How to Make a Difference – What Works!

My instinct on how to make a difference in a school community in the promotion of health and wellness was supported by the Comprehensive School Health framework. I started to use this approach in the 1980s and to provide in-service.

I dovetailed in the “Wellness: A Question of Balance” materials to implement health promotion principles. Such a process requires educators and their partners to constantly address health matters to enhance the health and well being of the school community as one that “constantly strengthens its capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working” (WHO). The big picture also involved the need to ease and support students’ transition to high school.

After trial and error, I designed a program that would address this challenge for students and parents and would introduce the Wellness Wheel concept as integral to the process.

The importance of parents being involved in their teen’s transition from elementary/middle school to high school cannot be overestimated. When parents stay involved their teens accomplish key outcomes such as:

higher achievement,
better adjustment and
less likelihood to drop out of school.

Research supports the need for addressing transitions, the importance of home and school connection, and that student engagement is all about relationships to someone or something.

Lots of Evidence

There is significant experiential evidence from a wide range of sources that describes the successful use of the Transition Guides and the “Wellness: A Question of Balance” Resource.

Recently I had contact with two colleagues from my past. Jim and Zoe reminded me of the Wellness Wheel Model and related activities from the in-service I had presented on health and wellness. They illustrated changes made and maintained in their health management over time. That is what one can hope for.

Resources Published

Wellness: A Question of Balance (Revised 2021)
Teens and Transition: A Teacher Guide (Revised 2021)
Teens and Transition: A Parent Guide (Revised 2021)
Health Promoting Schools: Development Site Proposal (2005)
Visits to Academies of Sport in New Zealand and Australia (2004)
Teaching in Victoria, Sooke and Saanich (co-author, 2002)
Healthy Kids Learn Better: Comprehensive School Health (co-author with Healthy Schools Co-ordinator for Greater Victoria SD #61). An Integrated Approach to Health and Learning (2002)
Wellness Priorities Survey: A School’s Guide To Success (co-author with two Public Health nurses). Support provided by University of Victoria Youth and Society Research Unit, research students from School of Social Work and Dept. of Psychology, parent and Student Services administration staff (2002) – contact for a PDF copy
Interpersonal Communication Skills Curriculum (1989)

Interests

Masters swimming (medalist at World Masters Games), travel, friends, writing, art.

Praise for the Resources

Wellness: A Question of Balance

Teachers

“Finally a framework into which all our work fits like a glove.”
“This work in wellness has evolved to include staff development and families. The Wellness Wheel forms an integral part of health education in our school.”

Students

I learned that …

“There is a Wellness Wheel. If it is not balanced, the ride will not be true.”
“You have to take care of yourself. You have to plan your own life according to your choices and plans.”

Counsellors

“As a first nations counselor, I have adopted the Wellness Wheel Model to address the diverse needs of my students.”
“The Wellness Wheel and graphing the spokes provided a visual for my group of single moms, of how one’s Wheel really looks and how far they are from achieving balance.”

School Nurses

“As Public Health nurses we use the Wellness Wheel concept as a theoretical model to help families and communities attain their goals of wellness.”
“It is a wonderful assessment tool”.

School Health Coordinator

“The model speaks to young people about taking responsibility for their own health and well-being. The Wellness Wheel metaphor is practical and easily understood. The student-friendly ideas can be easily integrated into curriculum. It builds on all the principles of health promotion.”

Teens and Transition: A Teacher Guide

“Students are meaningfully involved in the transition to high school”
“By using this Guide we have increased the success rate for our new Grade 9 students on how connected they feel to the school”

Teens and Transition: A Parent Guide

“Well-planned, thoroughly researched, tons of useful materials”
“Encourages parents to embrace and manage change”
“Succinct, humorous, organized”