Centering Teacher Well-Being

At Lattice, we believe thriving teachers create thriving classrooms. That’s why every educator we work with completes a proven, evidence-based well-being training before arriving in the U.S., equipping them with tools to manage stress, build resilience, and stay deeply engaged in their work.

Our well-being training is based on The Teacher Within, a curriculum co-authored by Susan Shapiro and Simona Baciu. Together, they brought decades of experience as educators and nonprofit leaders, Susan in the U.S. and Simona in Romania, to develop a program that supports teachers both personally and professionally. The result is a practical, adaptable training model shaped by real-world input from schools across both countries.

The curriculum has been strengthened by contributions from a broader team of education and mental health professionals, including Dr. Sally Baas (former president of the National Association of School Psychologists and faculty lead in multilingual teacher training), Dr. Pam LeConte (career special education professor), Sarah How (nationally certified school psychologist and international trainer), Dr. Mariola Rosser (education systems leader and convener of school mental health initiatives), and Dr. Diane Harr (longtime special education teacher, administrator, and current Program Chair of Graduate Special Education at Concordia University, St. Paul). Together, these practitioners helped ensure the training was validated across various school settings and rooted in both research and classroom experience.

Grounded in the six pillars of the Psychological Wellbeing Scale (Ryff, 1989), the program strengthens:

  • Autonomy – Confidence in decision-making

  • Environmental Mastery – Navigating challenges effectively

  • Personal Growth – Ongoing learning and self-development

  • Relationships – Building strong and supportive connections

  • Purpose – Reconnecting to a deeper sense of mission

  • Self-Acceptance – Recognizing and celebrating progress

Teachers who complete the program show statistically significant improvements in job satisfaction, lower burnout, and stronger student engagement. It’s not just training, it’s a foundation for long-term success, for both teachers and the schools they serve.

This model of preparation is central to how Lattice equips teachers to succeed, and how we foster meaningful person-to-person connections through cultural exchange. As the program expands, two new modules, The Culture Within and The Student Within, will build on this foundation. The Student Within, shaped in part by Edie Myhre’s work with the Stanford Medical School’s Belonging Project, brings these principles into student life and classroom culture.

The Teacher Within (English) and Profesorul din Tine (Romanian)

Our Approach

Lattice was founded on the belief that cultural exchange is most meaningful when rooted in care for the individual. That’s why our work centers on the emotional health and professional resilience of teachers. We focus on the inner lives of educators, not just their credentials—because the ability to connect across difference starts with self-awareness, reflection, and a sense of belonging.

This means hands-on assistance every step of the way, from their home country to the first American classroom they enter. We handle all logistics, travel, and administrative work, allowing school districts and teachers alike to both feel ready for the first day of school.

Why Romania-U.S. Exchanges?

Romania is a close ally of the United States culturally, strategically, and civically. Its educators are highly trained, globally minded, and deeply committed to their students. The country’s education system places strong emphasis on academic rigor, particularly in STEM fields, while its democratic values, English proficiency, and respect for American institutions create natural common ground.

At the same time, Romania has been largely underrepresented in many formal international education initiatives. Lattice exists to help change that—not through scale or bureaucracy, but by investing in relationships. By lifting up shared values. And by building something that lasts.