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November 9, 2022 Event: Using School Identity to Address Educator Exhaustion
Link to event site: https://portico.inflexion.org/crowdsource/crowdsource-coffee-using-identity-to-start-the-year-strong-2/
The beginning of the school year is an exciting time, but many educators are returning to their buildings already exhausted. A shared school identity–agreement on what a school stands for–is one tool for building a strong community, combating fatigue, and creating space for meaningful school change. This Crowdsource Coffee features discussion about how identity can be leveraged at this time in the school year, especially in the midst of staff shortages and low morale.
This event has passed.
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3 Replies
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IDEAS AND STRATEGIES SHARED
Personal experiences and strategies used to address educator exhaustion:
- Building a space where students can work on skill building, especially social-emotional and relationship skills, so they can enter the classroom ready to learn. This will require rethinking personnel assignments and spaces within the building, but may help with behavior challenges in the classroom that teachers struggle with managing.
- In professional development, focusing on providing training around SEL and trauma-informed practices for teachers and classified staff
- Providing positive feedback during observations, and getting into each classroom as much as possible, helps teachers feel appreciated and lets them know they are supported.
- Completing an initiative audit, to make sure all initiatives and programs are intentional and connected. This ensures that progress in one area is meaningful and relates to other structures.
- Referring to mission and vision as a reminder of the why we do things, which lets people know they are not alone and they have support.
How can you use your shared identity to help educators cope with burnout and demoralization?
- A shared identity guides us to intentionally take steps together as a whole team and share the experience
- Prioritize our energy investment on the things we value, as evidenced in our mission and vision statements
- Keep folks grounded in the “why”
- Knowing who you are and what you stand for is critical
- Spend more time connecting and learning about each other
- Shared experiences and shared best practices
- More time to plan and collaborate
- Helps everyone feel like part of a larger community
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Question for discussion: what would a four-day school week make possible at your school or district?
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@damian.crowson@threerivers.k12.or.us gave me permission to tag him here in case anyone wants to contact him about how 4-day work weeks at Three Rivers in Oregon. You can reach out to him directly through the Community Directory
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