Lorain High Opens New Staff Wellness Room With Community Support
Lorain High Opens New Staff Wellness Room With Community Support
The adults who show up for Lorain students every day now have a peaceful place to recharge. Lorain High School has officially opened its new Staff Wellness Room, a calm, work-free space designed to help educators pause, breathe and reset during the school day.
The idea for the Wellness Room originated with Lorain High social workers Laura Gooch-Brown and Amy DiTullio, who saw firsthand how much staff needed a quiet place to regroup. They developed the concept and sought out community partners who believed in supporting the well-being of educators.
Lorain High social workers Laura Gooch-Brown and Amy DiTullio, who saw firsthand how much staff needed a quiet place to regroup. They developed the concept and sought out community partners to fund a staff wellness room.
Their call was answered. Earlier this year, American Legion Post 30 donated $6,000 to help bring the project to life. Additional support came from Italian American Veterans Post 1, the IAV Women's Auxiliary and the Ohio State Eagles, whose combined generosity fully funded the room.
Debuted to staff this week, the Wellness Room has already become a welcome retreat inside the busy high school. The space includes comfortable seating, calming lighting, grounding resources, simple sensory items and a coffee and tea station. It is intentionally work- and food-free—an actual mental break amid the school day.
In a welcome video created for staff, Gooch-Brown shared the heart behind the space.
"This is your space to come and relax — not work, not eat your lunch. This is a work-free, food-free zone. This is your space to come and recharge," she said. "We know you do amazing things with our students every single day. So this is our gift back to you. We want you to come and utilize this room."
School leaders say the room is more than a perk; it's an investment in student success. When adults have room to breathe, they are better able to show up for students with patience, creativity and care.
Lorain City Schools extends a heartfelt thank-you to American Legion Post 30, IAV Post 1, the IAV Women's Auxiliary and the Ohio State Eagles for funding this space entirely through donations. And an equally deep thank-you goes to Laura Gooch-Brown and Amy DiTullio, whose vision, effort and advocacy made the Wellness Room possible.
With the room now open, Lorain High takes another meaningful step toward creating a supportive, balanced environment where everyone can thrive.
