Kaiser Permanente is proud to celebrate the 2026 Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s America’s Healthiest Schools awardees — a record 1,376 schools across 35 states recognized for creating healthier places for students, staff, and families to learn, work, and thrive. With 256 more schools honored than last year, the awards reflect a growing national commitment to whole-school health and a powerful reminder that student well-being is closely connected to the well-being of the teachers and staff who support them every day.
Kaiser Permanente supports this work through Thriving Schools, which offers no-cost resources to help schools and districts create healthier, more supportive learning environments. As part of that commitment, Kaiser Permanente is honored to sponsor the Cultivating Staff Well-Being category, one of the award areas that recognizes schools working to support the educators and staff who are essential to thriving school communities. When teachers and staff feel supported, valued, and equipped to care for themselves and one another, they are better able to create the kind of steady, caring environment where students can succeed.
Commemorating Teacher and Staff Well-Being
- This year, 436 schools were recognized for excelling in this category.
- 155 schools applied for this priority area for the first time, reflecting a growing interest in supporting staff well-being alongside student health.
“These schools are showing what it looks like to put whole-school health into action,” said Aria Lee, Director of Thriving Schools. “When we prioritize the well-being of teachers and staff, we strengthen the foundation for healthier classrooms, more connected school communities, and better outcomes for students. We are proud to support schools that are leading with care, creating environments where educators feel supported and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
From Recognition to Resources: Supporting Staff Well-Being Year-Round
The America’s Healthiest Schools awards celebrate what is possible when schools make health and well-being a shared priority, including the daily well-being of the adults who teach, lead, coach, counsel, serve meals, maintain buildings, and support students in countless ways. Thriving Schools helps schools and districts build on that progress with practical tools and resources, including a Well-Being Field Guide and no-cost strategy workshops. These workshops help district teams review staff satisfaction and retention data, identify priorities, and take meaningful steps to reduce burnout, strengthen connection, and support staff well-being. Several America’s Healthiest Schools award winners have already participated, including San Diego and Val Verde Unified School Districts in California. Examples of outcomes from the sessions included:
- Identifying ways to reduce staff absence through expanded professional development and resource awareness.
- Strengthening data collection on job satisfaction and burnout to inform decision-making.
- Increasing transparency in staff survey results and responsive actions.
- Establishing cross-district Community of Practices
Looking Ahead
Healthier Generation has set an ambitious goal of reaching 5,000 cumulative awardees by 2030 — a milestone that reflects the growing momentum behind healthier school communities nationwide. Thriving Schools resources help extend that momentum beyond the award cycle by giving schools and districts practical support to plan, act, and sustain progress, with teacher and staff well-being at the center of that work.
Kaiser Permanente congratulates this year’s America’s Healthiest Schools awardees and celebrates the educators, school leaders, staff, families, and community partners helping students and school communities thrive. Through Thriving Schools, Kaiser Permanente will continue working alongside schools and districts to make health and well-being part of everyday learning environments — beginning with the teachers and staff whose care, dedication, and well-being help make thriving schools possible.
Interested in taking the next step toward a healthier school environment? Download our 2026 Educator Field Guide, try this micro-learning exercise, learn more about strategy workshops, or visit our resources page for additional no-cost tools and information to support staff well-being and more.
