Educator burnout, Mental health & wellness, Teaching Conditions

October 2023

Teaching Conditions: Educators Highlight the Primary Challenges Contributing to Colleagues Leaving the Profession

As high rates of teacher turnover continue (see Chalkbeat), educators are highlighting the primary challenges that contribute to their colleagues leaving the profession: Systemic inequities, families and admin, mental health struggles, working over capacity, and lack of support.

• “The solutions to the ‘educator shortage’ are at our fingertips: professional wages. Supportive and respectful workplaces. Trust for educators.” —Middle School Science Teacher in Pennsylvania
• “Continuing to speak this into the void that no one seems to be paying attention to: Teachers are crumbling under unrealistic expectations. Almost 100% of learning falls to teachers with very little accountability for students. It’s a broken system. Send help.” —High School English Teacher in Georgia
  • “I would also add the endless required professional development.” —Teacher, N/A
  • “Unfortunately, what will be provided is more ‘programs’ which will require more middle management to oversee. What you need is $$$ for salaries and to fund smaller classes.” —Former Teacher, N/A
  • “I’m afraid this was the plan all along: ‘Let’s destroy public education and then point out that it isn’t working so we can justify further destroying it.’” —Teacher in Colorado
  • “ADMINISTRATOR: Students’ grades in your class are slightly higher than their standardized test scores would suggest they are capable of. You need to bring that into alignment. SAME ADMINISTRATOR: You need to give this student who did nothing all semester a passing grade.” —High School English Teacher in Ohio
  • “Yes! I am in my 30th year and cannot believe how difficult it has gotten. Many of us in my department are close to breakdown. Admin sees us as widgets. Parents seem to see us as the enemy. How did we get here?” —Teacher, N/A
  • “How do we shift the accountability? Or is it even possible? It feels like parents, students and administration are on one side and teachers on the other.” —High School Educator in Florida
  • “Fall break next week. Got a ‘How are you doing and how can we help you next quarter’ questionnaire. I tried to find something positive to share. I also wrote that if they plan to follow this current schedule I’ll leave the district even with 2-3 years left before retirement.” —Art Educator in Arizona
  • “’Almost 100% of learning falls to teachers…’ despite students spending less than 15% of their lives in a classroom from age 5 through age 18. Intellectual growth happens 100% of the time. If we’re holding teachers accountable for all of it, we’re 100% doing it wrong.” —Teacher, N/A
  • “Adding to all of this is new legislation that creates even more barriers for teachers to create safe & nurturing learning environments for students. It would take 2 minutes of Googling for legislators to see actual research instead of making assumptions on what should be law.” —Educator, N/A
• “I recently resigned from my position as 5th grade social studies & ELA teacher. Idk what’s next. The only interviews I’ve been able to land are all putting me right back where I resigned from. I’m just praying that what’s next is meant to elevate me financially, emotionally, & physically.” —Former Elementary Teacher
  • “It wasn’t the principal. Adore him. It wasn’t the students. They have my whole heart. It’s just teaching as a whole. I don’t want to be in the classroom. If I could be a resource teacher for ELA or an instructional coach, I think would be more at peace.”—Former Elementary Teacher
• “Nearly 20 teachers were out today. We returned from a 2-week fall break last week. Whatever we’re doing isn’t working…for teachers and students. What works!?” —Educator, N/A
• “A teacher at my school quit last night after hours. Didn’t come today. Teaching is really really hard. If we can’t value teachers’ mental health this is just going to keep happening. I love my job but there are definitely aspects that seem insane and unsustainable.” —Math Teacher in Kansas
  • “Teaching is definitely hard. Especially all the non-teaching ‘stuff’ we have to do. It’s also a good reminder for all of us to be intentional about saying ‘Hi’ to our colleagues & genuinely asking how they’re doing.” —STEM Teacher in Michigan 
  • “How do teachers put one foot in front of the other? For teachers who are ‘piňata’d’ by admin, extra work, behaviors – yet still have something good in the tank to keep teaching another year … what are next steps? Also, how can we stop the cycle of non-reelecting vet Ts for cheaper ones?” —Teacher in California
    • “Step 1) Shrink the ridiculous pay scale. You WANT to get to the top of the payscale faster. It is a manipulation of the mind to show you what you make after 30 years. SHRINK IT TO 5 years! Max out at 5. then we get COLA raises.” —Math Teacher in Kansas
  • “[My colleague] and I have been temporarily reassigned to a middle school because of the lack of teachers and the lack of support for teachers.  We started the year as a district short 20 teachers. By the end of week 2 that shortage grew to 35. It is where we sit now. No support.” —Instructional Coach in California 
  • “My pre-service teachers are already questioning the support they are observing in the classroom.” —Educator in Texas
• “TEACHERS: We talk about feigned helplessness we see/deal w/our students. Can we talk about the same with these adults in the school building?” —Educator, N/A
  • “Can we also talk about administrators who abdicate decision making/leadership by giving their staff the ‘freedom to decide’ or advise or discuss. Which translates to ‘you’re on your own’?” —High School Educator, N/A
• “For anyone thinking about the substitute teacher crisis, here’s my story. My local sub pay is now $350/day, which is enticing. I realized it would include covering for illness. I inquired about ventilation, HVAC, & Covid exposure notice, & got no response So, I’m not subbing.” —Teacher in California
  • “In other words, just as with the overall teacher shortage, increasing pay will not fix everything. It NEEDS to happen, but as part of a holistic approach.” —Teacher in California
  • “What state do you live in? Sub pay in my district is $125/day!” —Former Teacher, N/A
  • “Yeah we have none of those things, plus no mandatory student testing or quarantines so they can just come to school sick but if we get COVID we stay home with our own sick days.” —ELA Teacher, N/A
  • “My district pays $15/hour for subs. Teachers who sub during prep get $25/class which is $16.67/hour (90 minute blocks). So yeah, we definitely have a sub shortage.” —Teacher, N/A
• “One aspect that makes teaching hard for me this year is that many times, I (think I) know what I need to do to meet student needs, but I don’t always have the energy (or patience?) to do it to the extent I feel the work should be done with…” —High School ELA Teacher in Pennsylvania
• “The amount of time to do teaching tasks has not increased but the number of bricks on our plate has.” —Math Teacher in Kansas
• “Are there any other teachers genuinely finding time to enjoy their lives right now? It’s exceptionally difficult for me to find time for joy right now.” —Teacher, N/A
  • “Nope. Work and sleep.” —Math Teacher in Indiana
  • “At 3:20, what was done was done. I leave and live a parallel life in a whole other universe outside school. That means grades come later than desired, but my students and family get a healthy and happy version of me. That changed my life. Year 21. Middle and High School teacher.” —Teacher in Texas
  • “I’m actually still looking for a position. Had to take a little extra time to regroup. Been a little difficult to manage this solo. Hope to find something soon. (I know how hard it is to teach in October, especially since there are no built-in holidays).” —Teacher in California
  • “I’m in my 32nd year as a secondary math, science, and alternative education coordinator. I’ve found in times where I’ve struggled, what worked best was to close my classroom door and concentrate on the people in that room.  If you do right for that group you’ll be satisfied.” —STEM Educator, N/A
    • “Yes! This got me through to the end. 28 years, I retired and will not look back. I’ve been asked repeatedly to return, sub or tutor Title 1. No way. I love myself. Teaching is too tough right now. Hugs to all!!!” —Retired Educator in Oklahoma
  • “I think we all have a little covid teaching PTSD.” —High School Teacher in Massachusetts