Supporting Teachers to Prevent Burnout and End the School Year Strongly

provided by Vivian IveyPrincipal, Aloma High School, Orlando, FL

It is no surprise that teachers are facing increasing pressures.

They engage with diverse students, each bringing their own unique backgrounds, life experiences and personalities. In these potentially challenging situations, teachers often need support to prevent burnout, especially when dealing with personal difficulties outside the classroom or navigating classroom conflicts.

With 26 years of experience in education, I have seen firsthand how educational leaders can support teachers and reduce burnout, allowing them to focus on what really matters: making a lasting impact on students.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about leadership by accepting the mistakes I’ve made and observing how different roles work together in a school environment. One lesson that stands out is that every student, teacher and staff member brings their own ideas. Acknowledging this helps move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and creates an environment that supports teachers from all backgrounds, helping to prevent burnout.

Here are a few strategies I’ve learned over the years to better support our teachers:

We all face challenges outside of work

Teachers, like everyone else, have lives outside of school. While I believe that all teaching professionals come into each day with good intentions to teach and support their students, personal struggles can get in the way and lead to burnout quickly.

When teachers begin to feel burnout approaching, they often need to feel understood and supported. This is where administrators must meet them where they are to provide assistance. Support can look like offering a quiet place to reconnect, offering a listening ear or showing empathy.

For example, a few years ago, I noticed that a new teacher was often late, so I immediately asked him if there was anything I could do to support him. In this question, I found out that you have a disabled child who needs extra help in the morning. I then asked to step in for the first 15 minutes so that the teacher could focus on what was important before starting the day’s teaching.

Classroom Dynamics

Discipline is the key to preventing burnout. Teachers who face persistent behavior problems are more likely to burn out. It is important that they do not feel alone. Immediate intervention, such as removing a disruptive student or providing support, helps teachers regain control.

Given the diverse backgrounds of students and teachers, matching them based on personality and teaching styles is important. Some teachers do well in structured environments, while others handle behavioral issues better. School leaders must understand these changes and ensure the best balance.

Recognizing Teachers for Their Hard Work

Having an honors program in place not only highlights outstanding teachers but also provides positive incentives for staff. At our school, we award special awards for achievements such as the best credits or the highest attendance. Although not everyone can receive a trophy, we make an effort to provide a personal shout-out and recognition, such as writing thank-you notes or using other ideas I’ve found on social media. Small gestures, like thanking a teacher for staying late to help a student understand a difficult concept, can make a big impact.

Leading by Example

Teachers appreciate a leader who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and dive in when needed. As a principal, I have gone into classrooms and paid for teachers when they were absent or burdened, and I believe that this mutual respect helps to build a good culture. Teachers who see their leaders engaged in the day-to-day activities of the school, whether dealing with a challenging student or putting together a class, are likely to feel supported and valued.

Encourage Problem Solving and Ownership

When challenges arise, I encourage teachers to bring me solutions, not just problems. Empowering teachers to think critically about how to deal with problems, whether it’s classroom management, time problems or student behavior, helps them manage their role and builds confidence. This strategy also helps teachers to meet leaders in the center by voicing their needs, enabling leaders to develop a solution quickly.

The pressure facing teachers is especially real as the school year draws to a close, but there are steps we can take as leaders and colleagues to provide the support they need to finish strong. Ultimately, when teachers are supported, students succeed and schools succeed.