Stress and burnout are eroding teachers' motivation, performance,
quality of classroom interactions, and relationships with students, as
well as their commitment to the profession. Principals are leaving in
droves, and teacher shortages are becoming the new normal. Our teachers
are underappreciated and our schools underresourced. But, as the author
of Mindfulness for Teachers and The Trauma-Sensitive Classroom
points out, educators themselves have the power to alter this downward
spiral.
Educational psychologist Tish Jennings presents a matrix of
stress-causing factors that lead to burnout, and shows how teachers can
tackle the sources of stress at each pressure point. From the
development of social and emotional competencies--so important to
teachers and students alike--to the achievement of systemic change
through collective efficacy, she offers hope and practical remedies for
overcoming a toxic trend in education.