Teachers are well aware of the signs to look out for when it comes to student fatigue. But who鈥檚 looking out for teachers?
Teacher burnout can come from a variety of factors, including a lack of autonomy, lack of acknowledgement, and feeling like their concerns aren鈥檛 heard. Among the top things they say they want: higher pay to reduce financial insecurity, more support for dealing with student behavior, and 鈥渕ental wellness鈥� days.
On social media, EdWeek asked what was lowering their morale and what would help them get reenergized in their job. After you鈥檝e read their thoughts, check out our new downloadable resource for school leaders on recognizing and responding to burnout.
鈥淒oes anyone out here say at your school that you鈥檙e using standards-based grading? ... I am all for helping kids, but this policy is killing teacher morale.鈥�
鈥淚 still have daily assignments. My students scoff, saying I鈥檓 the only teacher who is still teaching. Why is this? The semester is not over.鈥�
鈥淕et rid of the 鈥榗heckout sheet鈥� ... While finishing out the year, we had to acquire 20+ signatures, many from unrelated departments, to be released for the summer. It was a frustrating scavenger hunt with faculty standing in a line for an outdated form. ... If we had the nerve to ask 鈥榳hy,鈥� we鈥檇 be met with an eye-rolling: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just the way we鈥檝e always done it.鈥�
One school leader has already taken proactive steps to steer things back on the right track.
鈥淚 was just having this conversation with another director, our teachers are worn out! We have a teacher-development day, and I plan to end it with a pool party and a home-cooked meal. Luckily we are a small school!鈥�
This downloadable will equip teachers and school leaders with the tools they need to prevent teacher burnout, as well as recognize when it鈥檚 become an issue for a colleague or themselves.
