The Re-Org Ordeal. How Stress Can Lead to Teacher BurnOut

It’s Re-Org Time. I am truly sorry if this year’s reorganization has impacted you. It is a stressful time for sure. The months to come can be challenging, too, as you try your best to get ahead of the game you were forced into. 

This year, my school experienced an unusually wide-reaching domino effect. Despite the hopes to keep the rippling small, every classroom was altered. 

Some teachers, as if in the middle of a breath, are told they are leaving, not only their classroom, but also their school and the grade they had been teaching. 

Teachers are sometimes given less than a week to wrap their head around the new grade they are assigned. And only one day to pack up and move. 

Suddenly, the hopes, dreams, and aspirations one had for the year are gone. Yet, for the students' sake, we put on a happy face, continue to teach through this madness, and panic pack on the sidelines where no one can see us, and where no one is listening.

ReOrganization is concerning for the mental well-being of staff. In the LivingRoom, I continually support teachers and the constant juggling act they are forced to entertain. 

Some of the ways teachers are impacted are:

Emotional / Social Burden

• Teachers have bonded with their students and learn that they are leaving, but they have to keep this fact a secret for a few days. They have to manage balancing their new knowledge while supporting their classrooms. 

• They will have created connections with other staff members at their assigned schools. Newer teachers are unfairly impacted, often making new friendships with staff, only to be surplused and moved again the following year.

• New connections will need to be fostered. It can be difficult coming into a new school part-way into a school year.  

Cognitive Burden

• Routines and unit plans for their classes have been set up. The time and energy invested into this is wasted.  

• Long-range planning and countless hours of prepping and planning for the assigned classroom have already occurred. New long-range plans will need to be written up. In some cases teachers will be teaching an entirely new curriculum. There is a huge rush on this new task - some teachers are given just a few days notice of their new teaching assignment.

• A whole month of curriculum has been taught and assessed. It can feel like it was all wasted. 

• If assigned an EQAO level class, the teacher may feel like he/she is a month behind, having to catch up on teaching. 

• The teacher may need to meet/learn / adapt to a whole new school with its own rules, routines, bell times, maps, etc.

Financial Burden

• Teachers may have spent hundreds and sometimes thousands of their own dollars on resources for the specific grade or subject assigned in September, only to find out they are moving. 

• New resources will need to be found.  Oftentimes, new classrooms are found with sparse supplies. 

• Arrangements may have been made with their own families based on the location and school times of the school they were assigned (eg. before and after school care). New arrangements may have to be made in some cases, creating anxiety and sometimes a financial strain.

And so much more…..

Sigh. Deep breath. It is just another piece of the Teacher Tired reality that so many people are unaware of. 

Your mental health certainly can be impacted.  Unfortunately, stress can sometimes lead to teacher burnout. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you might want to reach out to therapy.

I'm here to listen, support, and help guide you back to empowerment again.

Let’s Talk,

Nina