Burnout: Teachers & Leaders

Both educators and school leaders are experiencing burnout and mental health challenges. School leaders are solutions-oriented, focusing on the well-being of their staff. They frequently use terms like “effective mental health services,” “care,” and “resources” in their discussions. On average, conversation volume for educators discussing burnout is 2x higher than in leader communities, and conversation is focused on sharing personal burnout struggles. In many of their conversations, educators express that “self-care” is an increasingly empty phrase and advocate for higher pay and sustainable workloads. 

Both school leaders and teachers are expressing exhaustion and frustration

  • “I’m seriously concerned. Beyond that. My teachers. They’re exhausted; mentally, physically, and socially spent. We must act now. We must take things off their plates and they must be meaningful. We must be proactive.” —Principal in Kansas
  • “We need to take a pause and focus on the foundation. It is crumbling. As in the story the Three Little Pigs, we are building a system with straw and sticks using long-term subs, etc., and they are working so hard, but how long can this go on?” —Principal in Kansas
  • “Spent time today in PD with staff.  While I may be in the classroom with them, I definitely felt their concern, frustration, and anxiety today.  So many layers to peel back where do we start?  By the way, telling teachers to hang in there is not the solution.” —School Leader
  • “Principals … Covid cases spiking, no subs, the state wants paperwork and observations done, people are scheduling meetings.  Try to have a good day anyway!” —Elementary School Principal in New Jersey
  • “I am scared. Educators are tired. They are getting burned out. How can we keep so many amazing educators in their jobs. Everyone rushes to say pay them more. Money is not the only answer. Society appreciation goes a long way. ” —School Leader in California
  • “I would say that ‘burnout’ is the wrong term, it’s demoralized. Burnout is for individuals who push themselves too far, demoralized is reserved for those individuals within a system that does not allow them to access/realize the moral rewards of their work.” —ELA Teacher 
  • “You may be in contact with current teachers & hear their stories/worries, but if you’re not living it on the daily right now, you can’t fully grasp what it’s like. Pandemic stress + attacks on public schools + collective trauma + caring for students + health concerns = Burn Out” —Elementary Educator

Teachers are expressing frustration around what seem increasingly empty gestures by administrators

  • “Mindfulness Room [is] a space where staff can relax, meditate, enjoy chair massage, and just – breathe. We have had a mindfulness committee for several years that collectively works builds capacity within whole staff in this arena for staff and students alike.” —Assistant Principal in North Carolina
  • “@WalnutCreekES we had an entire staff wellness day … offered breakfast, provided opportunities for massages, cooking lessons, yoga, etc. It’s also important to know the love language of each staff member … some really just want a kind note!” —Elementary School Principal in North Carolina  
  • “@TQStarPTA surprised our staff with Wellness Bags this afternoon to promote self care and to say thank you to our amazing staff. There was music, dancing, and a visit to every staff member to show appreciation for their hard work. Thank you #PTA!” —Elementary School Principal in Maryland
  • “For all the people who think all educators need to keep them in the classroom is self-care. (News Flash to legislators and administrators, no amount of self-care makes up for systemic problems in the education system that bank on teacher self-sacrifice.)” — STEM Teacher in Pennsylvania  
  • “My principal just sent out an email that we can wear jeans this week only for ‘being flexible’ after half of the teaching staff was quarantining last week. We are living in Hell.” —English Teacher in South Carolina
  • “Self-care becomes weaponized when it’s being promoted in a system that neither cares for the people within it and actively tries prevents them from caring for themselves.” —Educator in New York City
  • “I’d add that webinars for self-care also fit nicely inside the junk drawer of mental health ‘support.’ Giving me more to do on a screen after work is the functional equivalent of tossing me a dime to call someone who cares in a world with no phone booths.” —Teacher