Teacher Burnout is More Prevalent Than Ever. How Can We Fix It?

We've entered a new year, but very little has changed when it comes to COVID-19's impact on public education. The pandemic has changed teachers' commitment to remaining in the classroom. According to research, nearly half of public school teachers who voluntarily left their teaching jobs after March 2020 did so because of the pandemic.

So what can we do about it? Here are just a few recommendations:

• Get teachers involved in developing district responses to reducing teacher stress. Instead of deciding what we think will help, let's allow teachers to tell us what they know will help.

• Work to change teaching culture. Make it okay for teachers to only work during normal work hours instead of expecting after-hours prep in addition to a full workday.

• Hold administrators accountable for how they treat teaching staff.

• Understand the challenges that teachers of color and other diverse populations face.

Suggested further reading:

How the pandemic has changed teachers’ commitment to remaining in the classroom

Why Black Teachers Walk Away

Stress Topped the Reasons Why Public School Teachers Quit, Even Before COVID-19

It’s Not On Teachers to Reduce Burnout, It’s On Our Schools – 9 Changes Needed