Tag: setback

More on Teacher Care

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“Books & Links & Resources… Oh, My”

Now retired and “far from ground zero,” I admit I don’t have a clear roadmap nor “magic pill” for a definitive plan to remediate educator stress, burnout, exhaustion, demoralization, and negative school climate. My disclaimer: So-called “expert recommendations” on self-care strategies towards better health and wellness, coping skills, and time management may not be applicable to every setting, situation, nor individual need. In other words, no prescription can cure every educator’s symptoms.

However, recent conversations with those “still in the trenches” and colleagues who endured to those horrible COVID (and post-pandemic) years in the schools, we need to address “the elephant in the room” (views of systemic breakdowns and loss of admin or community supports) and propose fresh looks into self- and school system improvement plans.

My friend Thomas Bailey (who has created a comprehensive ethics course for PA teachers and admins alike – refer to these past blogs 1, 2, & 3) and I have heard many “horror stories” of day-to-day dysfunctions, micromanagement and disrespect of teachers, a general lack of support and professionalism, and unhealthy/unsustainable policies, practices, and patterns of work environments at school. We have witnessed angry parents storming school board meetings, staff shortages with some positions going unfulfilled for months or longer, uncertified teachers placed in classrooms, overloaded teaching schedules, classroom management problems, increased risks and incidents of school violence, class sizes on the rise, and significantly less educator planning time.

In short, according to the blog entitled Teacher Burnout Statistics – Why Teachers Quit in 2026, K-12 educators are in the most burned out profession in the world:

  • 57% of U.S. teachers reported burnout in 2026, versus 36% of similar working adults (RAND, 2026)
  • 18% of teachers intended to leave their jobs in 2026 (RAND, 2026)
  • Managing student behavior is the #1 source of teacher stress, cited by 52% of teachers (RAND, 2026)
  • 77% of teachers say their job is frequently stressful, and 68% say it is overwhelming (Pew Research Center, 2024)
  • 78% of teachers have thought about quitting since the pandemic (University of Missouri, 2025)
  • 74% of public schools struggled to fill at least one teaching vacancy for the 2024-25 school year (NCES)
  • K-12 teachers were the most burned-out profession in Gallup’s most recent occupational ranking, at 52% (Gallup, 2022)
  • About 8% of public school teachers leave the profession each year (NCES)
  • Teachers worked an average of 49 hours per week in 2025, about 10 more than they were contracted for (RAND, 2025)

So, since the intent for this paulfox.blog site is to serve as a depository of professional development and insightful conversations for career development, I feel there is a need to share any new “finds,” innovative ideas (even those considered controversial), research, and other resources with the hopes that they may spark even an infinitesimal growth in sustained advancements in personal and staff resilience, self-care, motivation and passion for teaching, and work/life balance… as well as the goal for philosophical and structural changes in school climate and culture in order to promote positive employee morale and wellbeing.

Past blogs on this subject (and, when available, their accompanying conference slides decks) should be reviewed:

If you peruse the above links to my past articles, you will find the mentioning of several outstanding books to begin your journey towards the rejuvenescence of self-care. Please beg, borrow, (ahem – steal?), or purchase these to begin.

The Lesley Moffat Series (both are SUPER!)

Click here for her website.

In addition to I Love My Job But It’s Killing Me and Love the Job, Lose the Stress, you should also check out her newest publication, The Balanced Band Director! Her notes:

Over the years, I realized something important:
Most band directors don’t need more ideas. They need fewer drains on their energy.
They need systems that respect their values, their standards, and their humanity.

That belief is at the heart of everything I share now—through my books, my podcast, my coaching, and the tools I’ve built specifically for music educators. The strategies I teach aren’t theoretical. They’re the same ones that have helped me and hundreds of others move from constant depletion to a career that still challenges me without consuming me.

Being a Balanced Band Director doesn’t mean lowering the bar.
It means removing the noise, the overload, and the unnecessary friction that makes this job harder than it has to be.

Upbeat – Mindset, Mindfulness & Leadership in Music Education & Beyond by Matthew Arau

Click here for his website.

The book is divided into three parts – Ignite, Inspire, and Lead – and addresses numerous topics such as these:

  • Self-care for optimal mental, emotional, and physical wellness
  • The transformative power of positivity and gratitude
  • Growth mindset
  • Mindful breathing and listening in an ensemble setting
  • Internal self-reflection to outward expressions of leadership …and more!

Valuable contributions by author Angela Watson

Click here for her website.

She defines the goal of Awakened – Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching:

Showing up in the classroom as the best version of yourself each day requires serious mental fortitude. This book will empower you to develop the resilient, flexible, positive mindset you need to:

Change your perception of setbacks by replacing judgment with curiosity
Observe your thoughts and select the ones that create results you want
Honor your intuition, mind-body connection, and emotions for the insights they provide
Let go of bias, unrealistic expectations, standards, and comparisons
Practice radical acceptance to stay motivated even when you don’t see results
Realize a sense of accomplishment in a job that’s truly never done

In addition, as a closure to my own self-care workshops, I have always used these “motivating beliefs” illustrated in her first book, Fewer Things Better:

  • I am worthy of better and change is possible for me right now.
  • I set my own expectations in life and in teaching.
  • I know what is important and allocate time accordingly.
  • I ensure my needs are met to prevent overwhelm and exhaustion.

Now for the “Newer” Curriculum

If we could “wave a magic wand” and instantly transform the climate and culture in the schools, what would we do? During my PA Department of Education SAS Institute presentation for admins in December 2025, we explored a wide variety of key concepts, concentrated on more “teacher asks of administration” that are backed by multiple sources:

  • Give teachers the respect that they deserve.
  • Show that you value their time.
  • Streamline communications. Hold fewer or shorter team or faculty meetings (substitute some with emails?).
  • Set and adhere to healthy boundaries for work/life balance.
  • Prove that you trust them.
  • Protect classroom time by minimizing interruptions.
  • Reduce unnecessary accountability documentation.
  • Never underestimate your staff. Professionalize your language when discussing your staff with parents and other stakeholders.
  • Acknowledge their struggles and show that you appreciate the work they are doing.
  • Involve teachers in the creation of targeted professional development activities that are the most meaningful for them.
  • Ask teachers about what specific help they need to imporve classroom management.
  • Ask teachers what mental health or other supports they need to cope with their own distress.
  • Reframe your role as school leader. Shift from a school principal’s current focus on operations and compliance to a fuller picture of instructional leadership: a more “hands-on” approach to supports for student success, social-emotional learning, and a deeper emphasis on school culture, wellness, and community engagement.

Over the next 6-12 months, I plan to post a handful of new research and resources for your perusal. Here is a sneak preview of several books for an advanced and closer look.

Additional References

These were updated from my last conference handout for Self-Care Cookbook 2.0. Enjoy!

PKF

© 2026 Paul K. Fox