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Leadership & Burnout

How to Identify & Mitigate

Leadership & Burnout

How to Identify & Mitigate

Educators are at a high risk of being indirectly traumatized as a result of working with highly traumatized children/youth by listening and witnessing their trauma. It is important to know and recognize the different types of trauma & stress.

Types of Trauma and Stress Chart
Teacher Burnout

Signs that Trauma is Affecting the School Community

  • Chaotic, Disorganized, Unpredictable Environment
  • Lack of Voice in Decisions
  • Harsh & Punitive Discipline Practices
  • Collective Cynicism or Negativity
  • Increase in Complaints
  • Increase in Escalated Behaviors
  • Fear for Physical Safety
  • Increased Interpersonal Conflicts
  • Negative Atmosphere
  • Lack of Emotional Safety
  • Less Staff Energy or Motivation
  • Lack of Communication and/or Miscommunication
  • High Rates of Staff Turnover and Absenteeism
  • Incomplete or Low Quality of Staff Work
Teacher Burnout Warnings
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Two adults motivating each other and given each other a high five

What Can We Do to Mitigate Staff Burnout?

Develop Goals

Thinking of how we currently support individual well-being across the school community…

  • What should we keep doing and why?
  • What should we stop doing & why?
  • What additional efforts/supports might be helpful?

Record a Goal – What SMART goal will help us address the gap?

Plan Next Steps – To achieve this goal, what must be done and who will do it?

Check – If we complete these action steps, will we be close to achieving this goal?

Celebrate – Once this goal is complete, how will we acknowledge, celebrate, or reward the team for this accomplishment?

School Community Well-Being Efforts:

Staff in Training
Training & education opportunities support school community well-being by investing in staff & enhancing efficacy.
  • Awareness of the signs of secondary traumatic stress and related conditions, such as vicarious trauma.
  • Training focused on stress management, well-being, and resilience strategies.
  • Role-specific resources and content to support professional growth and career advancement.
  • Opportunities for learning developed in collaboration with community partners.
  • Provisions for staff coverage during school-day training sessions.
  • Transparent processes for staff to pursue professional development opportunities and earn credit.
Support & supervision provide staff clear avenues for understanding responsibilities and receiving help when needed.
  • Clarity
  • Supervision
  • Well-Being
  • Support
Staff standing in a line together smiling
Leaders support the well-being of the school community by supporting staff voice and choice to encourage ownership & empowerment with actions.
  • Clearly communicate opportunities for staff to contribute feedback on programming, practices, and policies.
  • Regularly evaluate practices and policies to assess their effects on staff health and well-being.
  • Offer avenues for staff to set and pursue individualized professional development goals.
  • Establish formal, confidential channels for staff to address concerns and grievances.

 

Teachers communicating in staff meeting
Clear, effective communication provides staff opportunities for feedback and shared understanding in the school community.  How information is communicated is just as important as what information is communicated.
  • Ensure every staff member is part of a team that holds regular meetings.
  • Incorporate well-being and stress management discussions into team activities.
  • Prioritize effective communication and information sharing.
  • Monitor and address levels of secondary traumatic stress and related conditions among staff.
  • Regularly assess staff satisfaction through feedback and evaluations.
  • Develop and update a plan to maintain consistent and effective communication methods for staff.

 

Teachers walking in hallway together
Staff physical and emotional safety in the work environment is a priority.  Actions that support staff physical and emotional safety, include:
  • Maintain facilities that are well-lit and in good condition.
  • Display information on employee rights and well-being in accessible locations.
  • Create opportunities to foster community-building among staff.
  • Communicate and enforce policies on discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
  • Address incidents of discrimination, harassment, disrespect, or bullying among staff promptly and effectively.
  • Provide proactive and systematic training to ensure staff are prepared to respond to child and youth safety concerns.