A mass walkout among teachers took place across the country in 2022. Many educators handed in a teacher resignation letter, and school districts were struggling to fill teacher vacancies, and substitutes were hard to come by. Those who stayed sacrificed preparation time and had to take on extra students and tasks.
Teachers mopping floors, vice principals doing yard work, and counselors doing lunch duty were not a surprise: it became a vicious cycle of exhaustion. The cycle makes it worse for the educators who stay after others burn out and leave.
According to a Gallup Poll conducted in February 2022, educators were the most burned-out group in the US workforce. The number of teachers who resigned rose to hundreds of thousands, with many pledging never to return.
In March 2022, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 44% of public schools had teaching vacancies, while June saw almost 41% more teachers quit than a year earlier, according to LinkedIn. Keep reading to find out what leads to teacher burnout and what can be done below.
Reasons Contributing to Teacher Burnout
Burnout was one of the main contributors to the teacher resignation crisis back in 2022.
The National Education Association defines teacher burnout as a condition in which an educator has exhausted personal and professional resources. It's not only about the skills needed for effective instruction.
So what made and is still making teachers so burned out?
Teachers' burnout goes beyond distracted students, low pay, helicopter parents, and broken technology. Chronic workplace stress is a significant contributor to the crisis, and there seems to be little progress in finding solutions. Teacher burnout can slowly change a teacher's positive attitude and optimism.
Today, teacher burnout is most commonly caused by the following:
- Insufficient funding for schools
- Unachievable testing standards
- Behavioral issues in the classroom
- Unsafe work environment
- Lack of time for planning
- Having an unappreciated feeling
- Lack of independence
- Managing difficult parents
Teachers have also seen their salaries unable to keep up with current prices and a growing gap compared with other professions.
Teachers Have Lower Salaries
In 2023, the pay gap between teachers and nonteachers reached a record 26.6%, according to a new study by the Economic Policy Institute. Over the years, the penalty for teacher pay has worsened.
According to researchers, this problem cannot be attributed to one single cause, and there is no national answer to this question. Depending on the market structure in a state, this is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed differently. However, some reasons include:
-
Wage stagnation: The main reason for low teacher salaries is stagnant wages that have not kept up with inflation.
-
Benefits Argument: Several critics claim teachers earn considerably more benefits than private-sector employees, adding to their shorter hours and summer breaks.
-
Undervalued profession: A great contributor to low salaries for teachers is the incorrect belief that it is "easy" to teach. This belief has led to the misconception that teaching is not as difficult as other jobs with the same education.
-
Lack of public funds for teachers: Despite public funding going to education, teacher pay has barely improved. Because teachers' salaries are so low, to begin with, any immediate increase would seem under-compensated.
-
Traditionally dominated by women: When women first entered the workforce, they had limited options and were forced to teach. According to some experts, sexism and the male-female wage gap play a role in teachers' low pay since teaching is a female-dominated profession.
-
Low salary levels in different states: States have different market structures, which might explain the low pay. A teacher in Oklahoma, for instance, earns less than $40,000–the state pays the lowest wages in the country.
In 2024, while 79% of vacancies have been filled, teaching salaries have not kept up with inflation in recent years, and schools are having trouble finding educators.
In fact, 72% of public schools needed help filling a teaching position for the 2024-25 academic year, according to the NCES.
Schools Are Sometimes Unsafe Working Environments
Teachers work in a challenging environment known as a "school climate." Some challenges include:
- unprepared students showing up to school
- parents struggling to be involved in their children's lives
- a rising poverty rate, bringing with it more threats to their safety, a lack of supportive relationships, and a lack of autonomy
- the public investment being insufficient
- safety threats faced by teachers
Adding to the stress, teachers often report that they conflict with administrators and fellow teachers and lack support. There is little respect for the skill and judgment of teachers, as almost two-thirds say they have little influence over what they teach.
Consequences of the Teacher Exodus
Leaving the classroom would have far-reaching consequences for teachers, students, and society. The health and well-being of teachers play an important role in societal productivity, health costs, and social capital, all of which are strongly influenced by teacher-student relationships.
Teachers who stay face burnout and high turnover, making building and maintaining relationships with students and other faculty members difficult. In the absence of positive relationships between teachers and students, both learning and well-being suffer.
A disruption in students' learning could have long-term effects on the ability of young people to contribute to society and thrive. Moreover, teachers significantly impact children's emotional and mental health. There is a correlation between lower depression rates and higher self-esteem among students with supportive teachers.
The pandemic compromised teachers' ability to provide quality education and affected students' mental health. The separation of students from their teachers and peers was a significant challenge. In terms of student outcomes and overall health, teachers can make a difference.
Are There Any Solutions to Teacher Burnout?
If schools want to improve students' educational experiences, school administrators and policymakers must first listen to teachers' voices. For teachers to avoid burnout, writing a leave of absence letter might be one way to reset.
But many say higher wages, more staff, and less paperwork are necessary. As more long-lasting fixes, those in power need to improve school climates, pay disparities, and other factors that discourage teachers from entering the profession.
The working environment requires policy interventions and institutional decisions. For example, it is essential to channel resources and assistance to teachers who persist despite the stress and physical threats, lack of influence over their syllabus, lack of administration support, and low appreciation.
After all, these experienced teachers who've managed to stick with it should be the foundation of a stronger education system.
High-poverty schools and teachers require extra funding and resources to increase student achievement and reduce teacher shortages. This way, we'll see fewer teachers looking for a teacher resignation letter template.
Start your Teacher Resignation Letter now
Helpful Resources:
Gallup - K-12 Workers Have Highest Burnout Rate in U.S.
NCES - U.S. Schools Report Increased Teacher Vacancies Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Economic Policy Institute - The teacher pay penalty has hit a new high
A mass walkout among teachers took place across the country in 2022. Many educators handed in a teacher resignation letter, and school districts were struggling to fill teacher vacancies, and substitutes were hard to come by. Those who stayed sacrificed preparation time and had to take on extra students and tasks.
Teachers mopping floors, vice principals doing yard work, and counselors doing lunch duty were not a surprise: it became a vicious cycle of exhaustion. The cycle makes it worse for the educators who stay after others burn out and leave.
According to a Gallup Poll conducted in February 2022, educators were the most burned-out group in the US workforce. The number of teachers who resigned rose to hundreds of thousands, with many pledging never to return.
In March 2022, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 44% of public schools had teaching vacancies, while June saw almost 41% more teachers quit than a year earlier, according to LinkedIn. Keep reading to find out what leads to teacher burnout and what can be done below.
Reasons Contributing to Teacher Burnout
Burnout was one of the main contributors to the teacher resignation crisis back in 2022.
The National Education Association defines teacher burnout as a condition in which an educator has exhausted personal and professional resources. It's not only about the skills needed for effective instruction.
So what made and is still making teachers so burned out?
Teachers' burnout goes beyond distracted students, low pay, helicopter parents, and broken technology. Chronic workplace stress is a significant contributor to the crisis, and there seems to be little progress in finding solutions. Teacher burnout can slowly change a teacher's positive attitude and optimism.
Today, teacher burnout is most commonly caused by the following:
- Insufficient funding for schools
- Unachievable testing standards
- Behavioral issues in the classroom
- Unsafe work environment
- Lack of time for planning
- Having an unappreciated feeling
- Lack of independence
- Managing difficult parents
Teachers have also seen their salaries unable to keep up with current prices and a growing gap compared with other professions.
Teachers Have Lower Salaries
In 2023, the pay gap between teachers and nonteachers reached a record 26.6%, according to a new study by the Economic Policy Institute. Over the years, the penalty for teacher pay has worsened.
According to researchers, this problem cannot be attributed to one single cause, and there is no national answer to this question. Depending on the market structure in a state, this is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed differently. However, some reasons include:
-
Wage stagnation: The main reason for low teacher salaries is stagnant wages that have not kept up with inflation.
-
Benefits Argument: Several critics claim teachers earn considerably more benefits than private-sector employees, adding to their shorter hours and summer breaks.
-
Undervalued profession: A great contributor to low salaries for teachers is the incorrect belief that it is "easy" to teach. This belief has led to the misconception that teaching is not as difficult as other jobs with the same education.
-
Lack of public funds for teachers: Despite public funding going to education, teacher pay has barely improved. Because teachers' salaries are so low, to begin with, any immediate increase would seem under-compensated.
-
Traditionally dominated by women: When women first entered the workforce, they had limited options and were forced to teach. According to some experts, sexism and the male-female wage gap play a role in teachers' low pay since teaching is a female-dominated profession.
-
Low salary levels in different states: States have different market structures, which might explain the low pay. A teacher in Oklahoma, for instance, earns less than $40,000–the state pays the lowest wages in the country.
In 2024, while 79% of vacancies have been filled, teaching salaries have not kept up with inflation in recent years, and schools are having trouble finding educators.
In fact, 72% of public schools needed help filling a teaching position for the 2024-25 academic year, according to the NCES.
Schools Are Sometimes Unsafe Working Environments
Teachers work in a challenging environment known as a "school climate." Some challenges include:
- unprepared students showing up to school
- parents struggling to be involved in their children's lives
- a rising poverty rate, bringing with it more threats to their safety, a lack of supportive relationships, and a lack of autonomy
- the public investment being insufficient
- safety threats faced by teachers
Adding to the stress, teachers often report that they conflict with administrators and fellow teachers and lack support. There is little respect for the skill and judgment of teachers, as almost two-thirds say they have little influence over what they teach.
Consequences of the Teacher Exodus
Leaving the classroom would have far-reaching consequences for teachers, students, and society. The health and well-being of teachers play an important role in societal productivity, health costs, and social capital, all of which are strongly influenced by teacher-student relationships.
Teachers who stay face burnout and high turnover, making building and maintaining relationships with students and other faculty members difficult. In the absence of positive relationships between teachers and students, both learning and well-being suffer.
A disruption in students' learning could have long-term effects on the ability of young people to contribute to society and thrive. Moreover, teachers significantly impact children's emotional and mental health. There is a correlation between lower depression rates and higher self-esteem among students with supportive teachers.
The pandemic compromised teachers' ability to provide quality education and affected students' mental health. The separation of students from their teachers and peers was a significant challenge. In terms of student outcomes and overall health, teachers can make a difference.
Are There Any Solutions to Teacher Burnout?
If schools want to improve students' educational experiences, school administrators and policymakers must first listen to teachers' voices. For teachers to avoid burnout, writing a leave of absence letter might be one way to reset.
But many say higher wages, more staff, and less paperwork are necessary. As more long-lasting fixes, those in power need to improve school climates, pay disparities, and other factors that discourage teachers from entering the profession.
The working environment requires policy interventions and institutional decisions. For example, it is essential to channel resources and assistance to teachers who persist despite the stress and physical threats, lack of influence over their syllabus, lack of administration support, and low appreciation.
After all, these experienced teachers who've managed to stick with it should be the foundation of a stronger education system.
High-poverty schools and teachers require extra funding and resources to increase student achievement and reduce teacher shortages. This way, we'll see fewer teachers looking for a teacher resignation letter template.
Start your Teacher Resignation Letter now
Helpful Resources:
Gallup - K-12 Workers Have Highest Burnout Rate in U.S.
NCES - U.S. Schools Report Increased Teacher Vacancies Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Economic Policy Institute - The teacher pay penalty has hit a new high
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