About Gail Markin
“There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”
Gail Markin is a Canadian counsellor, teacher, author, and speaker who is committed to promoting well-being in the education workplace.
Gail started her career as a social worker, a family counsellor, and a parent educator. After becoming a teacher, she worked as a school counsellor before moving to a District-level role supporting health and well-being for students and staff. Now she works as an education and workplace well-being consultant and coach.
Gail is loving her coaching work with the BC Children’s Hospital Health Promotion Team where she works as a mental health and wellness coach for a variety of school districts across British Columbia. She is also energized by speaking and presenting, helping school and school district based teams implement strategies to create healthier, happier, and more successful education workplaces.
Publications
Gail Markin and Selma Smith. “Psychological Safety in the Workplace: Lessons from the Classroom,” Wellness Education Magazine, August 2024, 14-19.
Gail Markin. Beyond Self-Care: Leading a Systemic Approach to Well-Being for Educators. Solution Tree Press, 2022.
Gail Markin and Dr Fei Wang. “Moving Beyond Self-Care: A moral responsibility for educational organizations,” EdCan Network, June 20, 2022.
Gail Markin and Dr Fei Wang. “Ethical Responsibility for Educational Organizations” in The Early Years of Leadership: The Journey Begins, edited by Ian A. Marshall, Grace-Anne Jackman, and Denise E. Armstrong. Emerald Publishing Ltd, 2022.
Gail Markin. “The Power of Reflection: The First Step Towards Recovery and Renewal,” InspirED, Fall 2021, 25-26.
Gail Markin and Dr Fei Wang. “Principal Health and Well-being: Time to Move Beyond Self-Care,” Leading: Back to School, Fall 2020, 69-71.
Gail Markin, Renge Bailie, Megan Zazelenchuk, Amanda LaBoucane, and Dr Sabre Cherkowski. “Growing Well-Being Across a System,” EdCan Network, June 2, 2020.
Gail Markin. “COVID-19 and Workplace Well-Being in K-12 Education: Leaning into Connection, Belonging, and Opportunity in a Time of Crisis,” EdCan Network, April 8, 2020.
Gail Markin and Dr Fei Wang. “Stress and burnout are on the rise among Canadian principals and vice-principals: Here are 3 reasons why you should care,” EdCan Network, March 3, 2020.
Gail Markin, “Belonging in the Education Workplace: Why ‘belonging’ is so simple yet so powerful,” EdCan Network, September 24, 2019.
Gail Markin, “The Secret to Healthy, Happy Educators,” EdCan Network, September 23, 2019.
Education
Doctor of Education - Leadership and Policy
University of British Columbia
Master of Education - Counselling Psychology
University of British Columbia
Master of Science - Psychology
Western Washington University
Bachelor of Education
University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of British Columbia
