Nearly half of K-12 teachers (44%) say they feel burned out “always” or “very often,” according to a new survey by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup and reported in eSchool News.
Fifty work hours per week is the norm for many teachers, and only 37% are satisfied with their workload, according to the survey. Less than half (45%) are content with their level of pay. Research shows these factors contribute directly to overall job satisfaction levels.
Collaboration improves workplace satisfaction — in addition to better pay and a more manageable workload. Teachers who report regularly collaborating with their peers about best practices, resources and curriculum implementation are 23 points more likely to be extremely satisfied at work than those who do not regularly collaborate (40% vs. 17%).
Teachers who regularly collaborate are also 12 to 32 points more likely to agree that they know what is expected of them at work, that they have the materials and equipment they need to do their jobs right, that they have someone at work who encourages their development, and that their opinions count in the workplace.
“Teachers shape the future every day. When we create opportunities for them to do their best work and collaborate, students don’t just learn — they thrive,” says Romy Drucker, director of the Education Program at the Walton Family Foundation.
eSchool News
