The Burnout Issue

Wow. Well, there seems to be no shortage of media coverage reporting on the morale of teachers in the U.S. (see citations below) The struggle is real, and many of us perceive that the challenges which are leading folks to depart the teaching profession go far back before we made it to the news cycle.

I believe that one preventative against educator burnout is a thoughtful, systematic, and sustained focus on educator wellness. This concept of wellness has received a great deal of lip service in the world of education for years. With the best of intentions, we school leaders have solicited free massage services, organized “fun” group activities and potluck social gatherings, and adjourned meetings early in the name of wellness.

These efforts often miss a deeper examination of the meaning of being well and how we might achieve it with real consideration of diverse needs and priorities, where we are in our careers and lives, and what resources are available to us. I find it helpful to think about wellness as a fluid state of being that can–and should–evolve and adapt as conditions shift.

Our wellness can be magnified (and yes quashed too) by the actions of others–AND also, perhaps more importantly, by belief in our own agency and ability to persevere towards success. An important question then is: how can educational leaders best empower our people to productively reflect, with professionalism and realism, on what wellness looks and feels like? Our students deserve healthy, engaged, and confident teachers that intentional work around educator wellness can help to yield.

As a leadership coach, I find myself drawn to work around “unpacking” ideas about wellness and examining the structures and practices that school organizations can leverage to help educators be well and stay in the game. Please be in touch if you are interested in digging into this work with a coaching cycle, interactive workshop, or professional learning experience designed for your current needs.