Let's Get Our Educators Out of the Trenches!
It’s time for a paradigm shift. Will we allow the burnout lurking within teachers and administrators to escalate, or will school districts prioritize and actively support educator well-being? Drawing from my extensive experience leading various educational settings and guiding colleagues through challenges, I understand the pivotal role happy and healthy educators play in our system's success. Burnout was a concern pre-COVID, and the past year and a half has only intensified the need for substantive support. Routine back-to-school activities won't suffice; a more comprehensive approach is essential to reenergize and reengage our educators. We need SEL for all.
What is imperative is the establishment of a program that systematically prioritizes, enriches, and uplifts the lives of our society's invaluable assets – educators. There is an urgent need to dispel the notion that teachers, principals, counselors, and support staff possess an infinite reservoir of energy that requires no replenishment. The linchpin of our educational system's success lies in our compassionate and dedicated educators. However, it is imperative to question who has taken up the responsibility of compassionately caring for and equipping them with the necessary skills and tools to adeptly navigate the dynamically evolving educational landscape.
The statistics are getting worse each year. Educator burnout has been a problem as long as I have been in education (over 20 years) and I’ve watched it escalate. A March 2020 survey found that the five most-mentioned feelings among all teachers were: anxious, fearful, worried, overwhelmed and sad. Anxiety, by far, was the most frequently mentioned emotion. I hear the same thing from nearly 100% of the educators we support.
I know that the increasing teacher shortage and the inability to fill positions all across the country correlates to our teachers being in the ‘trenches’ and not being provided proper support. The same is true for the substitute teacher shortage we are currently facing. What are we going to do about these issues? Think about it for a minute and hope it goes away? The reason it is increasingly difficult to find teachers to fill positions all across the country is because we have painted the job of being an educator as undesirable most recent graduates. Lack of necessary support and resources to manage and process the stress that goes along with being a teacher, counselor, dean, assistant principal, principal, and yes even superintendent is a systemic issue. Why do you think turnover for school leaders is so high? Why do over 40% of teachers leave the field within the first 4 years?
The phrase of teachers being in the trenches has a far reaching impact. The “revolving door” of teachers (and school administrators) is not just inconvenient for schools. Teacher turnover harms student achievement, discourages educators and is expensive for districts - ranging from $10,000-$25,000 per teacher depending on the qualifiers you use to measure cost.
What if I told you there was a solution to these problems? Would you be interested in a program for teachers, counselors, and school leaders that achieves the following metrics? Before we get to the metrics, keep in mind school leaders that are reading this: right now everyone is looking to you to solve this problem. This program takes the pressure off of you to solve the problem because you too deserve to participate in a powerful and meaningful program that:
- Decreases educator (teacher, counselor, & administrator) turnover
- Increases educator retention
- Improves teacher & administrator wellbeing
- Increases teacher, counselor & administrator life satisfaction
- Improves personal and professional efficiency and effectiveness
- Teaches educators how to craft a professional and personal action and wellness plan based on the 7 Powerful Practices Model designed by a former high school, middle school and elementary principal.
Think about this for a minute. Where do you place value?
What is the opportunity cost of unhappy teachers, teacher turnover or stressed and ineffective educators?
What is the value of happier and healthier teachers, decreased educator turnover, increased educator effectiveness and more satisfied students, parents and communities?
Let's consider the school or District budget. What revenue does your district save or generate as a result of:
- Decreased spending on teacher recruitment because your retention has increased
- More efficient school leaders focused on growing the team and strategic efforts rather than continually interviewing and replacing teachers
- Less employees that are burnt out and more resilient.
- Decreased spending on substitutes for teachers and other educators that have developed illness from stress
- Increased opportunity to pass funding measures as a result of more effective, happier, and healthier teachers = greater satisfaction among students and community members
- Increased efforts on instructional leadership versus reactive measures resulting in greater student achievement
Sound exciting? Sound like something you wish you could do? You can!
Here's what you should do: If this resonates with you, we invite you to explore our informational webinar on the benefits of the Joyful Leadership Institute or schedule a Vision Call through our Calendly link to discuss how our solutions can be customized to your District needs. This teacher, counselor and principal centric programming appeals to new hires as a recruiting tool and appeals to your returning and seasoned educators as an added benefit and ongoing support mechanism.
Imagine the power of the 8 Powerful Practice Action Plan based on the following program modules and competencies:
- Power of Purpose
- Power of Wellness
- Power of Reflection
- Power of Priorities
- Power of Time Management
- Power of Delegation
- Power of the Positivity Zone
- Power of Celebration
If this resonates with you, we invite you to explore our informational webinar on the benefits of the Joyful Leadership Institute or schedule a Vision Call through our Calendly link to discuss how our solutions can be customized to your District needs. After attending the Joyful Leadership Institute and creating a 8 Powerful Practices Action Plan, educators feel and in fact are less stressed and feel happier, inspired, valued, supported, effective and respected. This meaningful program should be used in the following settings:
- District new staff onboarding
- Seasoned staff professional development
- Administrators and counselors professional development
- Leadership team retreats
- Full staff professional development days
- Professional Development for Education Nonprofits
Join us as we aim to re-prioritize the educator experience in our educational system! Let’s partner together so we can get our educators back up on the pedestal where they belong instead of "down in the trenches''! Trenches are no place for highly educated, compassionate, caring educators or our future generations to be educated. Uplift your educators through the Joyful Leadership Institute Educator wellbeing cannot wait. The time is now!
Check out Joyful Leadership Institute to learn a bit more or better yet, schedule a Vision Call with a member of our team and we will walk you through it in detail, discuss customization options for your District, and reserve your date.
About the Author Lisa Imel, M.Ed.
Lisa Imel, M.Ed. is the Founder and CEO of EDSolutions Group. Lisa specializes in Human Potential and efficiency, Workforce & Economic Development, and K-16 Education Strategy. Through her work with school districts, colleges and secondary and post-secondary leadership partners she ideates, creates and implements systems and structures so that you can lead a more productive, meaningful, healthier, happier, work & personal life. As a life-long educator, high-school, middle-school, and elementary administrator, teacher and licensed superintendent, she gets it. Reach out at [email protected]
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” -Marian Wright Edelman
