Daisy Garcia Montoya
Education Reporter

Teachers and educators often struggle with high turnover rates, burnout, shortages and in Missouri, a lower wage, ranking 49th in teacher pay according to the Missouri National Education Association.
With ongoing events impacting students, teachers are often left to not only provide support to students but to do so without channeling their own thoughts or emotions. In observing this, one local organization, Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC) decided to step up and provide a safe space for educators to gather, exchange ideas and relax by hosting a wellness series.
LEC is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing Latino youth success by addressing gaps in their educational journey.
Senior Director of Programs Ivan Ramirez said that the current political climate was the ultimate factor in the creation of the wellness series, after hearing two sides of the spectrum where some educators felt supported and lifted by their districts while others felt that their leaders didn’t quite understand the burden educators were facing.
“Educators are doing extraordinary work, not just teaching, but disrupting systems, advocating for their students and supporting families, often with little to no support,” Ramirez said. “We have been listening, hearing the stories of educators showing up every single day, carrying the weight of their students’ lives on their shoulders while navigating a political climate that feels more uncertain and hostile by the day.”
This three-part series, offered both in-person and virtually, held its first session on Thursday, March 19th at LEC/RevEd (2301 Lexington Avenue).

The session was led by bilingual therapist Melanie Arroyo Pérez, who specializes in art therapy.
During the hour-long group therapy session, educators raised concerns about potential ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids and the impact on their students and families, the challenge of maintaining their authenticity as educators and encouraging new teachers. Additionally, many voiced their experiences with emotional burnout, suppression of discussing sensitive topics, and the need for safe spaces.
As participants went around and shared their own experiences and feelings, Arroyo Pérez provided art materials, clay in this instance, and transitioned the conversation into art therapy, instructing participants to use the clay to form an object that symbolized their feelings.
“In a group setting, having art materials and an art therapist available provides participants with an opportunity to engage in verbal and visual processing, but also provides an opportunity to engage in experimental learning,” Arroyo Pérez said. “Creating art allows us to channel our thoughts and emotions into an art piece, where the process can lead us to find answers and insights of the problem in ways that conversation can’t always achieve on its own.”
One participant formed a circle with spikes, sharing that some of the challenges feel like a virus, spreading across communities. Another participant made a figure full of twists, representing the feeling of being twisted and pulled in different directions.
After sharing the reasoning behind their mini sculptures and conversing of the way, Arroyo Pérez instructed participants to create a new object that showcased how they were feeling at the end of the session.
Arroyo Pérez says that educators coming together with others that have a similar background gives them the opportunity to know that they’re not alone in their struggles and gives them a sense of community and hope that change is possible while feeling heard and seen in a creative way.
As the session neared its end, the objects by participants progressed, becoming more light, positive and hopeful as opposed to the first objects created in the beginning.
Objects such as hearts and eagles were created, symbolizing that love will overcome the hate and negativity and that one can soar and reach new horizons, despite adversities. By the end of the session, participants shared a sense of no longer feeling alone but rather a new sense of community.
Arroyo Pérez said that although art therapy may look silly on the outside, small creative acts can work wonders on mental health and provide an outlet to decompress.
“Research shows that viewing, creating, or engaging with the arts (visual, music, literature/poetry, dance, or acting) releases natural chemicals in our bodies that reduce stress, and as a result reduce inflammation,” Arroyo Pérez said. “So while making art in the presence of an art therapist can have the added benefit of driving insight and resolution, making and engaging with the arts on your own also improves your mental and physical health.”
The next two sessions will take place throughout the next two months with an ongoing virtual livestream series also taking place concurrently. Each session is designed to offer a different experience from cacao ceremonies and collective care, creative expression and conversations about organizing and advocacy.

The sessions include:

Educator Reset: Cacao y Cuidado — Thursday, April 30 | 4:30–6:30 PM | LEC, 2301 Lexington Ave, KCMO

Educator Pottery Night — Thursday, May 14 | 4:30–6:30 PM | LEC, 2301 Lexington Ave, KCMO

De Maestro a Maestro Virtual Livestream Series — ongoing virtual sessions on advocacy, organizing, and building power

To register and find more information, please visit: leckc.org/event. Early registration is encouraged as spots for in-person sessions are limited. All are welcome and no experience or prior connection to the organization is needed.
Ramirez said that the goal for the wellness series is to provide more clarity, tools, and building community.
“We want educators to know they are not alone — What you’re feeling is real and what you are carrying is heavy. This is our way of saying: We see you, we stand with you, and we are committed to creating spaces where you can heal, reconnect, and rise.”