Teacher Burnout is Real—And It’s Time to Do Something About It

It’s March. The Spring is in full swing, spring break is much needed, and teachers are exhausted. The newness of the year is gone, the days are long, and the demands feel never-ending. It’s the time of year when burnout hits the hardest—not because teachers don’t love what they do, but because the system often asks more than it gives.

Think about it. Teachers are expected to reach 30 individual students with 10 different learning styles, all at the same time. They must keep students engaged, manage behaviors, and differentiate instruction—all while responding to emails, grading assignments, and handling the stress of state testing. They build relationships, hold one-on-one conferences, provide instant feedback, and navigate constant changes in curriculum, policy, and expectations. And they do all of this for about half the salary of their non-teaching peers.

Now add to that the pressure from outside forces. Political rhetoric that discredits their work. Leadership struggles that distract from learning. Misconceptions about what really happens in classrooms. The reality is, when people don’t know what goes on in schools, they make up what goes on in schools (Vawser, 2023). And far too often, that false narrative overshadows the truth: teachers are doing extraordinary work, every single day.

So what do we do? How do we change the conversation? More importantly, how do we take care of the people taking care of kids?

We hear it all the time: “The best school culture is one where students feel seen, valued, and heard.” But that’s not just true for kids—it’s true for teachers too. If we want schools where students thrive, we must first build schools where educators feel supported, respected, and appreciated.

That starts with a Culture of Yes—a workplace where teachers feel empowered to bring their ideas to the table, where their strengths are recognized, and where they know their voices matter. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that one-third of American employees feel detached from their workplace, citing unclear expectations, lack of connection, and a growing sense that their work isn’t valued (Silverman, 2024). That’s a leadership problem, not a teacher problem.

People don’t leave jobs—they leave environments where they don’t feel valued. Teacher morale is more important than any program, curriculum, or technology (Johnson, 2022). Because at the end of the day, schools aren’t successful because of test scores or fancy resources—they’re successful because of great teachers.

So what does that mean for leadership? It means prioritizing people over policies. It means protecting teachers’ time instead of adding to their workload. It means recognizing that if we don’t take care of the people who take care of kids, we will lose them.

Leadership is not about power. It’s not about policies or programs. Leadership is about people (Powell, 2001). And the most important space in leadership is the twelve inches between your head and your heart (Siler, 2020).

It’s easy to get caught up in logistics, schedules, and mandates. But at the end of the day, this job is about serving people. It’s about making sure teachers have what they need to be at their best, so they can give their best to students.

That means filling their cups. Supporting them on hard days. Giving them a voice in decisions. Helping them reconnect with their purpose. Because when teachers feel valued, they don’t just stay—they thrive.

Greg Popovich, after a tough playoff loss, could have met his team with frustration and criticism. Instead, he chose to fill their cups (Siler, 2020). He reminded them of their strengths, their value, and the work they’d put in to get to that moment. That’s leadership. Not reacting to circumstances, but leading through them with care and purpose.

One of the most important truths in education is this: every interaction matters.

One conversation with a parent, a student, or a colleague could be the thing they remember 25 years from now. That’s the power of the work we do. We may not control every challenge that comes our way, but we can control how we make people feel.

So what if we treated every interaction like it could define how someone sees education? What if we made it our mission to talk about the great things happening in classrooms, rather than letting negativity shape the narrative?

Because here’s the truth: schools are filled with incredible moments every single day. But if we don’t tell that story, someone else will.

The Work is Hard—But It Matters

There will be days when it’s hard. When it feels like nothing is going right. When you wonder if what you’re doing even makes a difference.

But hear this: You matter.

Not because of the lesson plans you write. Not because of the tests you give. Not because of the paperwork, meetings, or emails.

You matter because of who you are to the kids who walk into your room every day.

You are the steady presence in their lives. The one who notices when they’re struggling. The one who celebrates their wins, no matter how small. The one who gives them a place where they feel safe, valued, and heard.

You are not just a teacher. You are their teacher. And that means something.

So take a breath. Take a break. Take the time to take care of yourself. Because the work you do is too important for you to run on empty.

Teachers, don’t feel guilty spending time over spring break not working on school. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Rest, recharge, and remember this—because of you, lives are being changed.

References

Apsey, A. (2019). Through the lens of serendipity: Helping others discover the best in themselves. Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Chapman, B., & Sisodia, R. (2015). Everybody matters: The extraordinary power of caring for your people like family. Penguin Random House.

Gallup, Inc. (2023). State of the global workplace: 2023 report. Gallup.

Gordon, J. (2021). The power of a positive team: Proven principles and practices that make great teams great. Wiley.

Johnson, B. (2022). Dear teacher: 100 days of encouragement for the heart of a teacher. Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Powell, C. (2001). My American journey. Ballantine Books.

Siler, J. (2020). Thrive through the five: Practical truths to powerfully lead through challenging times. Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Silverman, M. (2024). Sustaining excellence: How culture drives teacher retention. Martin Silverman.

Vawser, T. (2023, October 30). Dr. Joe Sanfelippo: Changing the narrative [Audio Podcast]. School CEO.