We hear words like burnout, stress, and overwhelm repeatedly used to describe the current feelings of many educators. According to a survey of National Education Association (NEA) members, “More than 55% of [teachers] say they are more likely to leave or retire from education sooner than planned” as a result of the pandemic, while “forty-six percent of teachers say they feel high daily stress.”
So, how do we keep our valued educators in schools? How do we call back those who have left a profession they once loved? How do we attract new, qualified teachers to the world of education?
There is not a singular, foolproof answer, but there are a few easy steps we can take to start moving in a meaningful direction toward improved educator well-being. We recommend the following three quick activities that administrators, school leaders, and educators can use to rebuild, reconnect, and support one another.
Empowering individual teachers and reminding them of their own abilities is a powerful first step. Mindfulness has increased in popularity among teachers as a tool to help “cope with classroom challenges and manage their feelings,” which in turn allows them to better “manage their students’ big feelings.” Mindfulness can also help foster greater self-awareness, and “teachers report that SEL (social and emotional learning) contributes to their own feelings of happiness, and helps them be more organized and responsive.” As a result, we see classrooms with a strong sense of community where young people feel they belong. Over time, this leads to higher levels of self-esteem, better stress management, stronger relationships, and greater feelings of happiness and optimism.
Ultimately, SEL activities for staff can be a powerful starting place for deeper, more effective SEL work for students. In addition to supporting K-12 students to build future-ready and SEL skill sets, Wayfinder can support educators to facilitate meaningful dialogue among colleagues, build trust, foster a sense of belonging in their broader communities, and deepen their understanding of their Why. With the support of Wayfinder’s best practices, educators can teach and utilize relevant SEL strategies to manage and model well-being for students. After all, if we really want to take care of students, we must take care of our teachers, too.
Looking for more ways to support your students and staff? Reach out to us to learn how SEL and Wayfinder are helping educators and students thrive.