Happy Teacher

         How are you, teacher?

          I have found that there isn't enough literature on teacher well-being. Agree? I think that's a really big problem. Teachers need support beyond how to facilitate an effective class, or how to engage students and keep them happily learning, and how to improve outcomes/data. What about teacher's needs?

           We, as a society, need to put some focus on supporting teacher health and helping them achieve balance between work life and personal life.

            Here is an excerpt from my book in progress:

Teacher burnout is a conflict that even the greatest teacher can experience at some point or another.
Many teachers face this within the first 1-3 years of teaching – and it can last a long time without strategies, guidance, and support to overcome it. I was fortunate enough to overcome the burden of “burnout” early in my years as an educator – thus, leaving me looking forward to my future in this career, rather than having me dread each day feeling stuck. Any teacher feeling burnout can overcome it, no matter where they are on their educator journey. It’s not too late!

What is “Teacher Burnout”?

Burnout occurs when people feel drained emotionally, physically, and mentally by some constant
stressors. One of the most common causes is work, and teachers tend to take this stress to a whole new level. The conflict teachers face typically stems from their Type A personalities and tendencies to take on the weight of the world in their desire to “make a difference.” The thing is we don’t remember that even the smallest acts can and will make that difference. Taking work home, prepping at home, staying late at school, and volunteering for the umpteen thousandth time is not what makes a difference.

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Teachers often feel overwhelmed, tired, unappreciated, and frustrated by the daily challenge of
maintaining a positive and productive learning environment while neglecting their own fundamental needs. Things that overwhelm and stress a teacher include grading – Lord help us: the grading, meetings, conferences and training, accommodations, planning, creating, data tracking and reviewing, and oh so much more… the list goes on and on. It’s exhausting. Feeling unappreciated can come from treatment by students, parents, fellow faculty, and administration–though great admin is one thing I’ve always been fortunate to have. Frustration can stem from going above and beyond delivering excellent instruction to reach all students, yet still having those underachievers that – no matter what you do – you just can’t motivate.

You’re Not Alone

A teacher experiencing burnout can often feel very lonely. Well, I am here to assure you that more
educators are feeling it than the ones who are not. So why don’t we talk about it more? Why is it taboo to say you are feeling unhappy and unfulfilled as an educator? The reason is that teachers are viewed as difference makers who have some supernatural powers of patience and caliber for omniscience. That’s a lot of pressure for anyone! Those are some high-stake shoes to fill. The truth is that we aren’t superhuman all-knowing beings without limits of patience. And that’s ok.

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If you need help, let me know. I am here, and I've been there. ❣