Written by Lauren James Budhu
Remember the pandemic that forever changed our health as a society, the way we work, and ultimately, how we learn? While we have largely exited the pandemic era, our society is still dealing with some of the negative effects, especially for public school teachers. According to the standtogether.org article, “7 education trends to watch in 2025,” this includes specialized teacher retention, teacher burnout, and educational leadership.
Even before the pandemic, specialized teachers — foreign languages, special education, even advanced math — were already struggling. This especially rings true for schools in rural areas, which have experienced educator shortages over the years. So, how do we bridge this gap? A lot of it depends on meeting teachers where they are and providing the support they need to feel empowered. This means being mindful of workloads, ensuring that compensation reflects their value, and allowing them to shift away from standardized tests and use methods that best suit students.
This is something that I have personally witnessed: many educators are overworked, overwhelmed, and understimulated. Coming from a family of educators (my father, plus my stepmother and her entire family), when they taught in the public school system, they devoted countless hours to ensuring their students felt supported and uplifted. It was too much.
Also, teachers typically spend hours before and after school working in the classroom and might not be compensated adequately for their job– sometimes even spending their own money to buy supplies and snacks for students. Research shows that over 50% of teachers quitting their jobs cite insufficient compensation as a significant factor. Despite their critical role in shaping future generations, teachers often find that their salaries do not reflect their qualifications or the effort they put into their work.
So, what sometimes happens with teacher burnout and low compensation? They quit. Constant teacher turnover disrupts the continuity of students’ learning and can have long-lasting impacts on their educational attainment. Consistency in teaching staff is crucial for creating a stable and conducive learning environment. Unfortunately, a high teacher turnover rate disproportionately affects low-income districts and districts with higher percentages of students of color. Almost 40% of teachers in districts where most students receive free or reduced-price lunches plan to leave, compared to just 25% of teachers in districts with fewer such students.
It’s not just teachers who need to feel supported and empowered. Increasingly, schools are recognizing that, rather than taking direction from government mandates, they should be listening to their actual clients: students and parents. Tyton Partners’ 2024 Choose to Learn report illustrates just how important this is: Researchers found that 48% of K-12 parents want to explore different educational options for their children, but lack the knowledge of what’s available. Addressing the challenges school leaders face is crucial for the future of education. Teachers, administrators, and students can all benefit from a more transparent environment where everyone collaborates on making education decisions together.
Ultimately, when teachers thrive, so do their students. Educators play a vital role in shaping and empowering younger generations to be more driven, empathetic, and mission-minded members of their communities. Here are some things you can do to help:
- Volunteer at a local school
- Support local libraries
- Attend a local school board meeting and participate
- Show a teacher you care by donating to a teacher’s classroom project
With school starting this month for millions of children across the country (including my daughter, who is starting kindergarten), it’s important to support our educators in as many ways as we can. Cheers to a new school year!
