The Staying Power of Our Educators
I wrote this piece just before Omicron hit the US hard. I am now posting it as we enter a very long stretch for many educators - the push to Spring Break - as a reminder to all of us that teachers have STAYED through some very taxing times. It truly is a SUPERPOWER!
A recent article, “Why there hasn’t been a massive exodus of teachers” by the Fuller Project caught our attention at TeachWell. Really? Didn’t we just write in our blog last month that the teacher turnover rate was predicted to increase by nearly one-third in previous years? If this is true, what does it mean for the teachers with whom we work? The article and subsequent inquiry shifted our thinking. To state the obvious, the teachers we work with have stayed. At the risk of rocking the boat a bit, we became curious: why have teachers stayed?
The question alone brings up a bit of a concern that we may bring attention to the fragile state of our remaining teachers, as if any one of them may leave at any moment simply by virtue of bringing up the topic. As we reflected further, the resilience of the teachers with whom we work fits squarely in the frameworks of social-emotional intelligence that TeachWell applies, in particular our conversations about grit.
Why have you stayed?
What core values drive your loyalty to teach?
What intention do you hold for yourself moving forward this year?
Who is the teacher you want to be?
Grit, according to Angel Duckworth, “is not just having resilience in the face of failure, but also having deep commitments that you remain loyal to over many years.” And so we pursued the questions further. In our session this past month we have asked our teachers: Why have you stayed? What are the core values that drive your commitment to teaching? Furthermore, when we apply the lens of mindfulness: What intention do you hold for yourself moving forward this year? What we are finding is that the teachers who are responding are not fragile at all. Quite the opposite, our teachers are bold, strong and full of grit and grace.
Many of the core values we heard related to teachers’ care for their students. Teachers come back to this core value again and again. For our teachers, education is as much a vocation as it is a job. The deeply relational aspect of teaching that TeachWell aims to nurture and strengthen is what draws so many of our teachers to teach. Teachers believe they can make a difference in the lives of their students. Many of our teachers understand that education is the path to equity and opportunity for many of their students. Teachers thrive on the moments of celebration and joy when their students learn something new or achieve a milestone. Teachers are moved by the moments of connection when a student turns to them in need.
The love and care the teachers feel for their students means that teachers must feel cared for in return. Most of our teachers strive to remain patient, to be resilient, to maintain hope and optimism, to hold steadfast in their work, and not falter in their commitments. While teachers hold these intentions with integrity, many simultaneously question their bandwidth, their endurance, and fortitude in the face of continuous pandemic challenges. At TeachWell, we deeply believe in our teachers and hold them in the highest regard for their staying power. We also know that without additional support, their intentions and their grit are not sustainable.
As we wrap up this semester and 2021, we encourage our teachers to revisit their why: to honor their core values and to set intentions for the New Year. AND we encourage school leaders to prioritize the wellbeing of these steadfast warriors and everyday heroes, who at the end of the day, are human and need our love and support more than ever if we expect them to stay.
Have a restorative winter break! Rest and be well!