Happy "almost" October to you all! I haven't posted in sometime, as I have been extremely busy with my graduate coursework at UCD in Educational Psychology. Being a full time student, instead of a full time teacher has allowed me the opportunity to step back and reflect on the field of education. Every day in class I am fortunate to share in very meaningful conversations with educators from all different districts, grade levels, races, genders, and cultures.
After speaking with ALL educators there is one thing that I do find each of you, including myself, have in common, the overwhelming difficulty of finding balance in your career and the rest of your life. Teacher burnout is not a new topic of discussion, however, my question is WHAT is our schools, districts, universities and government doing to address this issue? Incentive pay is not the answer, teaching teacher wellness is!
A recent assignment in my Research Methods class has launched me into a new land of exploration that I hope will allow me to advocate for teacher wellness in the State of Colorado. My question to legislatures, district administrators and college boards is: Are we willing to support our teachers by offering Teacher Wellness courses as part of the curriculum in Teacher Preparation Programs as well as in district professional development opportunities? Wouldn't the implementation of this type of coursework allow teachers to take a look at how they cope with stress? Wouldn't it allow our teachers to incorporate healthy behaviors into their lifestyles to manage stress? And the final question, wouldn't healthier teachers impact our children?????
I will continue on my campaign to advocate for Teacher Wellness programs in the State of Colorado. In the meantime, please let me know your thoughts, ideas, and any feedback that may help me with my proposal for change for teachers!
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