Designing Better Supports for Educators
The Big Problem
Educators have some of the most important jobs. They play a key role in shaping the future, nurturing, and teaching the next generation. We trust educators to help children reach their full potential and develop critical thinking skills. Teachers often take on multiple roles, including those of counselors, mediators, and assessors, all in addition to their educational responsibilities. They put in long hours outside of the classroom, developing lesson plans, grading assessments, and helping youth navigate stress and family issues.
Despite the important role educators play, they often lack the necessary resources to effectively navigate these immense responsibilities. This leaves educators, who interact closely with our children on a day-to-day basis, stressed, exhausted, anxious, and even sometimes depressed. In turn, they burn out and ultimately leave the profession.
To avoid educator burnout and ensure that children receive the best education possible, it’s essential that organizational changes are made to provide educators with the necessary professional and personal support to excel in their roles. Behaviorally informed supports, such as increasing teaching autonomy and developing well-designed recognition and feedback systems, can increase teacher satisfaction and improve retention.
About the Author
Emilie Rose Jones
Emilie currently works in Marketing & Communications for a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario. She completed her Masters of English Literature at UBC in 2021, where she focused on Indigenous and Canadian Literature. Emilie has a passion for writing and behavioural psychology and is always looking for opportunities to make knowledge more accessible.
