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Mt. Lebanon superintendent presents live-stream ‘Update and Mindful Moment’

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 5 min read
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Timothy Steinhauer shows his “gratitude flower” during a session of his “Update and Mindful Moment.”

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Timothy Steinhauer dressed in professional attire instead of one of his cardigan sweaters

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This email was created because of the popularity of Timothy Steinhauer’s dog, Wishbone, who is featured prominently on the video series.

A new streaming video series called “Update and Mindful Moment” is getting strong viewer support, and host Timothy Steinhauer acknowledges the credit where it’s due.

“‘More Wishbone, less Tim’ is what I hear,” he said.

Wishbone is Steinhauer’s pet dog, and the chipper pooch makes periodic visits in front of the camera as the Mt. Lebanon School District superintendent conducts a virtual conversation with his students, their families and anyone else who wants to watch.

“He’s been the rock star for us, and we’ve even had to get him an email address,” Steinhauer said, and yes, that’s Wishbone@mtlsd.net. “Kids have been writing him emails, and he’s been responding.”

And so youngsters can imagine his little doggie paws on the keyboard, typing replies.

In the meantime, they can watch Wishbone’s human, dressed Mr. Rogers-style in cardigan sweaters, talk about the latest information available about the COVID-19 situation before switching topics to lighten the mood.

“I’m just trying to give people the facts of what I know that day,” Steinhauer said. “What people have to be patient with is, guess what? It may change in an hour. It may change in a minute. But here’s what we know right now.”

“Update and Mindful Moment” streams live for about 15 minutes starting at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and the videos are available for viewing any time at www.mtlsd.org/district/superintendent/update-and-mindful-moment.

Steinhauer started presenting the updates on the first day school was closed following Gov. Tom Wolf’s order, and he moved the set to the friendly confines of his home, Wishbone included, later that week.

For his presentations, Steinhauer decided to incorporate exercises in mindfulness, which focuses on awareness of the present moment and is used as a therapeutic technique.

“I think people are looking for a moment of calm and peace in this storm that we’re trying to navigate,” he said.

During one session, he led breathing exercises as illustrated in “Alphabreaths,” a book by clinical psychologist Christopher Willard, an advocate of mindfulness who has been invited to speak in Mt. Lebanon on multiple occasions.

“The science behind that is, if we can calm our parasympathetic nervous system, we can also calm our minds and bodies,” Steinhauer said. “We bring oxygen in, which is good for our bodies, and we released that carbon dioxide, which is bad for us.

Another activity involved Steinhauer assembling a construction-paper “gratitude flower,” with “I am thankful for …” written on a circle in the center and various objects of appreciation inscribed on petal-shaped cutouts. One of them, of course, is for his wife, Kim.

“Practicing gratitude can improve your psychological health or your mind health. Grateful people enjoy higher levels of well-being and happiness,” he asserted, citing research studies. “It can help with empathy and reduce aggression. Those who show gratitude are less likely to seek revenge against others and are more likely to behave in positive, sensitive and empathetic ways.”

Beyond his morning video, the superintendent also spoke about the district’s “school from home” initiative to provide an educational component while the buildings are closed. In advance of the program, computers were provided to all students who needed them, as was internet access for families.

“Online learning will not be like being in the classroom. We know that. So everybody has to be patient as we learn to get better at it. We find different ways to do it,” Steinhauer said. “There’s a wealth of online resources, and there’s a wealth of information out there. We just have to use our good judgment.”

Instruction is asynchronous, meaning there are no set times.

“Teachers will give them lessons and work to do, and then the students, when they have the opportunity, will complete their work and submit it online,” Steinhauer said. “For our kids, it shouldn’t be sitting in front of a computer the whole time. Sometimes they may be reading a book or drawing pictures for half an hour. So it doesn’t all have to be online instruction.

“It’s a challenge for everybody,” he continued. “Some of our teachers have their own children at home. They have to juggle that, too, and they may not be able to online at 9 o’clock, exactly.”

As for his “Update and Mindful Moment,” the intended audience extends beyond his students.

“I know it’s impacting not just our children, but our adults. So I’m doing this just as much for the adults as I am for the kids,” he said. “If I have calm, patient parents, then I’m going to have calm, patient kids.”

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