This study explored the extent to which teacher stress management and wellness could be mediated by the comprehensive school health [CSH] model, and in turn, if improvements in staff wellness could strengthen engagement and sustainability in CSH. CSH is a framework for promoting wellbeing within school communities, encouraging lifelong engagement in healthy living practices. The research explored the relationship between decreasing teacher stress, improving teacher wellness, and establishing effective, sustainable CSH. Grounded theory methodology was used to explain phenomena of interest to the researcher (CSH and teacher stress and wellness) through interpretation of the perspective and context of those who experienced it (Birks & Mills, 2011). Grounded in field data collected through constructivist design and focused on participants’ perspectives, feelings, and beliefs (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010), in tandem with relevant research literature and researcher memos, an enhanced understanding of CSH and teacher wellness was constructed. Data collection and analysis uncovered the richness of participants’ lived experiences and built understanding of CSH implementation and sustainability. The study suggests that an interdependent relationship exists between CSH and teacher wellness, and emphasizes the importance of relationship building at all stakeholder levels in education. Relationship building encourages shared responsibilities among stakeholders to address challenges and teacher supports, and inspire action to establish effective and sustainable school cultures of wellness. In combination with connections to passion, purpose and ownership, change possibilities and sustainability are enhanced. Healthy stakeholder relationships may be a prerequisite to not only CSH sustainability, but perhaps the success and staying-power of any change initiative in education. Considering the reports of teacher workload and stress, and minimal evidence addressing improvement and empowerment through wellness supports, the results provide important suggestions for enhancing CSH and addressing the fundamental building blocks of change and sustainability: establishing trust, cultivating ownership, and building mutually respectful relationships across the hierarchy of education. The study opens the door for longitudinal exploration of a comprehensive approach to CSH, from teacher education to K to 12 initiatives, observing teacher health outcomes, student health outcomes, the interplay between those and learner outcomes, and determinants of effective and sustainable school cultures of wellness.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / After South Africa became a democratic country in 1994, the South African education ministry devised curriculum changes at a national level that would reflect an equal education structure for all South Africans. Curriculum 2005 was implemented in 1998 with the curriculum changes gazetted in the Department of Education’s Revised National Curriculum Statement for Grades R-9 (RNCS) (Schools). South African teachers had to be retrained to implement these curriculum changes. The legislation for teacher education is documented in the Norms and Standards for Educators (NSE) policy document (DoE,2002). This exploratory phenomenological multiple case study explores teacher identity in connection to how primary school teachers view, perceive and implement the Community, Citizenship and Pastoral (CCP) role at three primary schools in the Western Cape education districts. The three schools chosen can be described as suburban advantaged, suburban disadvantaged and urban disadvantaged. The overall aim of this study is to investigate the connection between teacher identity and the views, perceptions and practices of primary school teachers at three schools in the Western Cape in relation to the practical, foundational and reflexive competences of their CCP role.In this multiple case study, qualitative methods are used. The qualitative methods include participant interviews, focus group discussions, unstructured observations and document analyses. Numerical data collected is presented in a quantitative format. An interpretative approach from an insider and outsider perspective has been selected. Terre Blanche,Durrheim & Kelly’s (2006) steps in interpretative data analysis is adopted as well as Max-Neef’s (1991) transdisciplinary approach.This study is informative for a number of stakeholders: teachers, schools, Education Management Development Centres, the Western Cape Education Department and the National Education Department. I report on how teachers see their teacher identity and how this identity impacts on the way teachers view, perceive and approach their CCP role. Some internal and external factors that influence teacher identity include administrative stress, staff dynamics and the results and feedback from learners. The significance of this study lies in the revelation that all teachers, irrespective of their teaching environment or backgrounds, are in need of support. Based on the findings of this investigation I further propose a programme for teacher support that can be encouraged amongst teachers. These recommendations can influence both teacher performance and teacher longevity in schools. Further recommendations are for the extended school community and the synergy that can exist among the various stakeholders in education.