Why Teachers Are Already Cracking (and It's Only October!)

Hi.

Welcome to The EDU Files, bringing education insights, stories, and vibes to your inbox every Tuesday.

The fall weather finally showed up for us here in Florida, and we soaked it in. 🍁

Between spending time outside and cheering on our MLS side, Orlando City, I was in full soccer-dad mode. ⚽️ Plus, we managed to get our Halloween decorations back up after the hurricanes took a swipe at them - because nothing says “spooky season” like a ghost that has been through a tropical storm. 👻

But enough about my adventures, let’s dive into the educational content you’re here for.

Now, shall we?

Deep Dive 🤿

Why Teachers May Be Already Cracking (and It’s Only October!)

It’s almost a quarter of the way through the school year, and if teachers were athletes, they’d already be icing their brains. What started as a sprint in August has turned into a marathon, and there’s no finish line in sight. But unlike marathons, this one comes with endless emails, 25+ student rosters, and no medals - often just more meetings.

In my work, I speak with many classroom teachers from across the country. I hear this across the board. It seems like we have been here before.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Teacher Burnout by the Numbers

A recent study by the National Education Association (2023) shows that 90% of educators believe that burnout is a “serious problem.” In fact, teachers are already feeling exhausted just a quarter into the school year. It’s not just the typical early-year adjustment; it’s a snowball of never-ending demands.

The American Federation of Teachers found that 61% of educators reported that their work will “always” or “often” be stressful in 2023, a significant jump from 38% in 2020. Yes, even pre-pandemic, we were already heading off the rails. Now? I fear it’s a runaway train that leaders must have their attention on.

Take Action: School leaders can take action by reducing unnecessary tasks that pull teachers away from teaching. Check out a previous edition of the Edu Files, Stop Doing Things That Don’t Matter.

We can eliminate redundancy in our work. I’m talking about unnecessary paperwork and streamlining communication to give teachers more time to work on teaching and learning, such as planning lessons that include high-impact pedagogy. Instead of adding another meeting to review data, how about using that time actually to let teachers act on it? Less talking, more doing. Free up time for what really matters: high-impact instruction.

It’s Not Just Teaching - It’s Everything Else

While most teachers enter this profession to inspire and educate, they spend most of their time doing far from that. Administrative paperwork, endless email threads, tracking student data, and attending back-to-back meetings pull teachers away from instruction. It’s a workload problem, not a student problem.

According to a 2023 EdWeek Research Center survey, teachers now spend less than 50% of their work time actually teaching. That means more than half their time is consumed by non-instructional tasks like data collection, behavior management, and meeting compliance measures. What’s happening to the core of teaching?

Take Action: School leaders must focus on creating support structures that free teachers from unnecessary tasks. Delegating non-instructional responsibilities to support staff is critical to alleviating the load.

Teachers did not enter the profession to spend the majority of their non-teaching time on administrative tasks. Let’s reimagine their roles and make more meaningful use of their time by supporting non-teaching tasks. From adding instructional aides to using tech solutions for tracking student progress, leaders must actively protect teachers’ instructional time.

Leaving the Profession: The Growing Exodus

The early exodus of teachers is no longer a distant warning - it’s happening now.

Many teachers are already mentally writing their resignation letters by winter break. They are not just looking for greener pastures - they’re looking for any pasture that won’t eat them alive.

A shocking report from the RAND Corporation (2023) reveals that 1 in 4 teachers have considered leaving the profession in the next two years. When nearly a quarter of your workforce is eyeing the exit, it’s not a workforce anymore - it’s a crisis.

Take Action: Focus on retention through strong mentorship, mental health support, and reducing workload - and do it early, not at the end of the school year. Retention is about more than appreciation weeks and thank-you emails - it’s about real change. Implement peer-to-peer mentoring, create mental health days that aren’t just lip service, and, most importantly, listen to what teachers need to stay.

What Can Be Done: A Call to Action for Educational Leaders

We know this isn’t your first time hearing about teacher burnout. In fact, it’s the same conversation we’ve been having for years. Every fall, we say, 'Teachers are overwhelmed,' and by spring, we’re scrambling to keep them from leaving. It’s like déjà vu, but with more paperwork and fewer solutions. The reality is, despite all the talk, nothing truly changes—teachers continue to be buried under the weight of the system.

It’s clear: teaching has turned into a high-stakes balancing act of impossible demands. We’ve stretched teachers to their limits and then some. The solution isn’t another “self-care” workshop - it’s systemic change.

In a survey by the Learning Policy Institute (2023), nearly half of teachers who left the profession cited “unmanageable workload” as a primary reason. That’s not a cry for a better work-life balance - that’s a cry for survival.

Take Action: Reimagine what a teacher’s day looks like, balancing instructional time with actual support. Give teachers what they need most: time. Time to plan, time to breathe, time to teach. If that means adjusting schedules, hiring more support staff, or cutting unnecessary admin tasks, then let’s do it.

The future of education depends on it.

Track of the Week 💿

Turn on, tune in, and check out…

Click the iPod to check out the track I have on repeat this week. Check out The EDU Files playlist for tunes to keep you rockin’ throughout the week.

Surfing the Web 🌊

Here is my favorite EDU content from the web this week.

• We Need To Do More for Teachers Who Are Exhausted, Stressed, and Burned Out by We Are Teachers

• Teacher Burnout and How Administrators Can Help by Teacher Made

• When It Comes to the Teacher Shortage, Who’s Abandoning Whom? by Michael Fullan and Joanna Rizzotto

Be sure to check these out…

Feedback 💭

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Thanks for spreading the word, and keep up the good fight. The work you do matters.

See ya next Tuesday! 🍏

PS: If you are interested in supporting your school or district with any of the content or strategies in The EDU Files, click here to drop me a note or to talk more.