ANSWER:

The job description for the wellness trainers is available on the Montgomery County Public Schools website.  The position does not require any professional licenses or certifications.

     a. Ms. Rivera-Oven requested information on how MCPS plans to pick the schools that these Wellness trainers will be going to.

Wellness trainers are a community school initiative implemented through funding from the Maryland Leads Grant and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The goal is to promote health and wellness, including physical activity and nutrition, at community schools. We currently have 26 community schools funded through the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future in the 2022–2023 school year. Community Schools are the only schools that are considered for wellness trainers.

There currently are 14 full-time and 2 part-time wellness trainers created in the 2022–2023 school year. There are two community schools with wellness trainer-like positions funded under Title I. For this school year, schools were prioritized based on enrollment and availability of current resources.

     b. Ms. Rivera-Oven would like to know what the day-to-day might look like for the Wellness trainers and if the Wellness Centers work with 
     other nonprofits and with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Wellness trainers are not a part of the wellness centers.  The day-to-day work includes assisting in the development of mindfulness spaces in the classrooms and developing a mindfulness room in the school, being present at recess to address any issues of bullying and helping with social skills, presenting mindfulness activities in the classrooms, and collaborating with community school liaisons on parent workshops on mindfulness and wellness.