The Kids are Not Alright… And Neither are the Teachers

Woman covid mask

Over this past month I’ve had conversations with districts from coast-to-coast that are at a breaking point. District leaders are taking previously unheard-of steps to try to head off… no, it’s too late for that… to catch up to the stress that’s crushing the spirits of educators.

The stresses that set upon our educational system were more apparent in the 2020/21 school year… parents, employers, and whole communities felt the impact of at-home schooling and the ever-present concern of Covid.  The stress was identifiable, and the prayers for things to get back to normal were audible on everyone’s lips.

And now teachers and students are back in the classroom. Parents are back to work… still often from home. And the kids? Well to quote one assistant principal from Massachusetts, “As a disciplinarian, this is without a doubt the most trying return to school we’ve ever experienced. The amount of discipline issues we’re dealing with that were intense, large discipline issues – vandalism, violence, threats – was not something that I was at all prepared for… The number of students in dire need of counseling is off the charts.”

We <were> worried if kids were going to wear masks… but it’s clearly bigger than that.

After the nation has made herculean efforts to return to the classroom this year, a district in Oregon has voluntarily sent kids back to online learning for 2 weeks because of extraordinary behavior issues.

Another east-coast school has decided to give their staff back their PD time, allowing teachers to take that time to try to just “do what they need” because everyone is already burnt out and just “not doing well.”

We know that in the before times, teaching was stressful for a variety of reasons… lack of respect, systematic shortcomings, emotional investment, financial stress. None of that has changed. But add to that the stress and frustration from the last 2 years and the new behavioral issues that are so prevalent as students readjust to being back together, and the sum total is something we’ve never seen before.

As a result, Florida is seeing a 65% increase in staff shortages. Similar shortages are documented in California, Texas, and South Dakota.  And there are seemingly infinite anecdotal accounts from other states as well.

Is there any good news?  Well… this is where leadership comes in. On the surface, things sure are grim. But that assistant principal from Massachusetts? She continues… “The number of students vocalizing their need for assistance is also a lot higher, so given the state of the kids upon their return I try to remind myself that their calling out for help is actually a positive.”

A superintendent from Missouri shared that “Coming out of the school board meeting, you’d think that social and emotional support has always been our first priority.”

Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, an applied developmental psychologist from the University of British Columbia, puts it this way, “District leaders might say that SEL is just another thing on the plate… but SEL IS the plate.”

So that we’re beginning to understand the importance of ensuring student’s emotional well-being ahead of mandated instruction is a very good thing.  As evidence of that new emphasis, some companies, like Edsby.com, are embedding SEL check-ins into their learning platforms.  And the number of districts taking SEL programs like Goldie Hawn’s MindUP Foundation seriously are on the rise.  Those are really positive signs.

But those efforts alone don’t address the stress that teachers are feeling, and the repercussions that will manifest in further te樂威壯
aching shortages are still swelling on the horizon.

As leaders, where do you see your districts taking steps to address that?  Is this a matter of time and “getting back to normal,” or are you starting to see what a “new normal” is going to look like?

Notes & Sources

School Leaders Take Note: Teacher Care is a Lot More Than Self-Care: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-11-02-school-leaders-take-note-teacher-care-is-a-lot-more-than-self-car

Why So Many Teachers Are Thinking of Quitting

https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/10/18/teachers-resign-pandemic/

No, the teachers are not okay: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/10/20/teachers-are-not-okay/

How the pandemic is still affecting educators in 2021:

https://www.edsby.com/how-the-pandemic-is-still-affecting-educators-in-2021/?locale=en

MindUP: https://mindup.org

Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl: https://sel.ecps.educ.ubc.ca/dr-kimberly-schonert-reichl/

Florida Education Association:  https://feaweb.org/issues-action/teacher-and-staff-shortage/

Fort Worth Start Telegram: https://account.star-telegram.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=254267518&intcid=ab_archive

Learning Policy Institute: https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/product-files/California_COVID_Teacher_Workforce_REPORT.pdf

Rapid City School District Looking to Fill 120 Open Positions: https://www.keloland.com/news/education/rapid-city-school-district-looking-to-fill-120-open-positions/

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  1. Great article, Michael – and those first three resources are essential, yet so sad to read. I especially feel for those new to the profession, as their frame of reference does not include “good times” to look back on. I’m sure there are “good moments”… but that is not enough to sustain them through these endless, exhausting days.

    I hope others share ‘micro-solutions” happening in their districts as we continue to move forward.

    Proudly, our School Committee voted to change our school calendar last week. The day before December break, students will only attend a half-day. Our Superintendent has been very clear in saying she wants teachers to spend the rest of that day prepping and planning so they can leave work AT WORK during vacation. What a powerful message to send to staff, students and our community.

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