The School District of Lee County: Redefining Workplace Wellness

The School District of Lee County serves 107 locations, each with a unique set of schedules, roles, and needs. To support this complexity, the district has strategically invested in employee wellness, weaving it into the fabric of daily operations and ensuring initiatives remain flexible, inclusive, and effective.

At the heart of this work are Heather Parker, wellness coordinator, Lisa Paul, wellness specialist, and Kimberly Albertson, Aetna wellness coach. Together, they challenge outdated norms and prioritize meaningful strategy and measurable results. Supported by leadership and innovative vendor partnerships, the School District of Lee County has built more than a benefit offering; it’s developed a culture of well-being that evolves alongside its workforce.

Defining Wellness at the School District of Lee County

The School District of Lee County maintains a strong wellness brand, ActiveLee, that employees across the district immediately recognize as synonymous with wellness. Heather, Lisa, and Kimberly have intentionally designed the strategy to deliver accessible, engaging, and even fun initiatives that feel supportive rather than like another task on an already full plate. For them, wellness goes beyond traditional health offerings such as biometric screenings or standard health fairs. Instead, the focus has shifted to whole-person resources and experiences that create meaningful impact and help employees achieve lasting, positive health outcomes.

Challenges of Delivering Wellness at the School District of Lee County

Serving more than 100 locations brings some challenges. Accommodating varied schedules, diverse employee needs, and budget considerations requires Heather, Lisa, and Kimberly to think both creatively and strategically. Rather than viewing these realities as obstacles, they see them as opportunities to better align and refine their wellness strategy. To meet employees where they are, they offer a broad menu of wellness options and collaborate closely with vendor partners to maximize reach and impact. Programming is delivered in multiple formats and offered at a variety of times. They intentionally tailor their approach to meet employee needs—even hosting cooking demonstrations exclusively for bus drivers to encourage their attendance.

Leadership Support

One of the key ways wellness continues to receive leadership support at the School District of Lee County is through Heather’s commitment to demonstrating that workplace wellness delivers measurable results. By consistently analyzing return-on-investment (ROI) data, she can confidently report that wellness initiatives have saved the district $300 million over the past 12 years. Wellness is directly incorporated into the district’s business strategy and, through their focus on improving employee well-being, they have created a lasting financial impact and long-term sustainability.

Wellness Initiatives

Participation in wellness initiatives through ActiveLee is both easy and engaging for employees. Initiatives are carefully selected to drive meaningful health outcomes while reflecting what employees are most interested in and motivated by. The program’s app simplifies tracking, and employees can also connect their personal fitness trackers for an even better experience. One of the most popular initiatives encourages daily walking—employees who walk 7,000 steps or more earn $1 for each day they meet the goal. With this initiative and a variety of other wellness opportunities, employees can earn up to $800 in incentives, plus additional prizes along the way. Heather, Lisa, and Kimberly carefully select prizes that are meaningful, high-quality, and supportive of a healthy lifestyle. By leveraging technology and vendor partnerships, the program helps employees build and maintain healthy habits that improve overall well-being. Its holistic approach spans physical, mental, and other dimensions of health, with variety as a driver in keeping employees engaged and motivated.

Employee Engagement and Feedback

Feedback is a critical component to the success of wellness in the district and is taken seriously. It is gathered not only through an annual survey but also through conversations with employees, aggregate data, health claims, and insights from vendor partnerships. Incorporating this feedback into wellness initiatives gives employees a sense of ownership over the wellness strategy, which in turn boosts engagement and participation. This approach enhances morale, strengthens social connections, and helps foster a thriving culture of wellness.

Advice for Other Organizations

Heather, Lisa, and Kimberly offer the following advice for organizations looking to develop or enhance their wellness strategy.

• Know your audience—Design initiatives that are meaningful and relevant to your employees.
• Start with impact—Consider disease reversal initiatives to make a tangible difference in health and wellness.
• Be solution-oriented—Don’t let barriers get in the way; find ways to make initiatives work, even if that means making certain programs exclusive. Sometimes exclusivity builds interest and momentum, which can help secure support and funding.
• Invest wisely—Focus on high-quality initiatives, such as annual exams instead of just biometric screenings, and provide multiple ways for employees to earn incentives.
• Keep it engaging—Make wellness fun, creative, and motivating to maintain participation.

Ultimately, the School District of Lee County shows that a successful wellness strategy doesn’t rely on trends or one-size-fits-all solutions. By moving beyond outdated practices and investing in initiatives that drive meaningful behavior change while addressing employees’ needs and interests, wellness has become an integral part of the district’s culture.

The School District of Lee County is a 2025 Well Workplace^® Award recipient. Click here to review a complete list of award winners.

A new Award platform is coming in 2026! Interested in applying for a Well Workplace Award? Learn more about the Well Workplace Award application process here.

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  Ashton Sholund

  Wellness Content and Information Specialist

  Wellness Alliance

  As a Wellness Content and Information Specialist at the Wellness Alliance, Ashton is passionate about supporting employee well-being and advancing workplace wellness initiatives. With over 12 years of experience as a certified health coach, Ashton has worked extensively in the worksite wellness sector, empowering individuals and organizations to prioritize health and create sustainable wellness strategies. Outside of work, she enjoys group exercise classes and participating in a monthly book club to nurture both her physical and mental well-being.