Problem of Practice Presentation: Effective Leadership and The Promotion of Educator Mental Health and WellnessSubmitted To: Dr. Dianne YeeSubmitted By: Laura Andreozzi, Sylvia Robinson & Christina SementilliDue Date: November 24th, 2016Course: GRADEDUC 9720A - 650

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Has this ever been you?

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Class Activity #1: Questions of The Day

Before we begin this presentation, we would like you to reflect on these questions:

“What are examples of stress that you have experienced in your profession? How would you define teacher

burnout?” 

Please click on the link below to watch the video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N9PdG48jXA 

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The Problem:

Our Problem of Practice focuses on the issue of stress and burnout in the teaching profession and the exploration of effective leadership strategies that promote educator mental health and well-being. For clarification, it is important to identify the terms stress and burnout. Stress is defined as “negative feelings resulting from work that may include anger, frustration, tension and/or depression that threaten a professional's sense of well-being” (Kyriacou, 2001; Howard & Johnson, 2004). Burnout is described as “negative consequences associated with chronic job stress. It involves affective components such as exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment” (Huebner, Gilligan & Cobb, 2002).

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Reflecting on The Problem & Possible Solutions•Consequences of teacher burnout affects teachers, students, families and schools

•Teaching is a “high stress profession”•Prolonged stress leads to burnout•Effective leaders search for opportunities to help their staff

•Effective leaders help teachers skills to counter the effects of stress

What do we know?

•Teaching pupils who lack motivation•Maintaining discipline•Time pressures and workload•Coping with change•Being evaluated by others•Dealings with colleagues•Self-esteem and status•Administration and management•Role conflict and ambiguity

Possible triggers of teacher burnout

•Encourage an active and animated social committee•List of staff birthdays•Weekly email from administrator with important dates and a celebratory anecdote from the school

•Staff bulletin board for noticing sticky notes – administrator and teacher lead•Allow ½ days on PA days for social networking on and off-site (bowling, potlucks) •Host personal events in someone’s home (wedding/baby showers)•Routine 50/50, group lottery tickets•Employee of the month nomination and award (lunch/dinner with principal)

•Most importantly: Bring positive energy into the workplace and focus on strengths and contributions of teachers. Actively engage in building a high moral workplace atmosphere.

How can administrators change this?

What can educators do to help themselves?

*Treat yourself to your own 'me' time (holiday, T.V., etc.)* Get plenty of sleep* Know your students and understand them * Discipline your students when required* Teach to your personal strengths * Aim to maintain your passion and enthusiasm when planning activities* Seek peer support when required* Increase self-esteem * Increase autonomy, competence and relatedness (self-determination theory)

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”– Ovid

Just breathe.

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Class Activity #2: Chart Attack

We have all experienced stress in the workplace to varying degrees. How we react to certain situations is crucial in being able to successfully deal with that which is causing stress. Unfortunately, some people experience difficulty in diffusing stressful situations, thus creating a snowball effect making even the slightest stressful situation feel insurmountable. Therefore, certain techniques are beneficial in helping people change their perspective of a stressful situation. Howard and Johnson (2004) suggest that “techniques borrowed from cognitive therapy may be one type of palliative technique that can help teachers reduce job-related stress.” The table below states an example of a possible stressful situation, and is divided into situations and emotions that may stem from that particular situation and thoughts that may arise from this. Reflect on your own experiences in the workplace and complete each of the three sections in the table. The first example is completed for you.

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Chart Your Thoughts:(The Example is given from Howard and Johnson (2004).)

Situation Emotion(s) Thought(s)The class is not paying attention. I had to repeat myself numerous times to get the students' attention. 

Frustration It is impossible to teach this class.

     

           

 No, you cannot say you want to run away from the

class. Even if you are thinking it.

Okay, we know you are thinking it. It’s okay, we are not

here to judge you!

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Lightening the mood…Get your laugh on and watch the following skit by comedian Kevin Hart!!!

Kevin Hart: Teacher Confrontationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvvenN_zKng

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Pooh said it best…“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going

along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

– Winnie the Pooh

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Research Literature:

Cenkseven-Onder, F., & Sari, M. (2009). The quality of school life and burnout as predictors of subjective well-being among teachers. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 9(3), 1223-1235. Retrieved from https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/61844163?accountid=15115 Dorman, J. (2003). Testing a model for teacher burnout. Australian Journal of Education & Developmental Psychology, 3, 35-47. Retrieved from https://www.newcastle.edu.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0020/100487/v3-dorman.pdf Griffith, J., Steptoe, A., & Cropley, M. (1999). An investigation of coping strategies associated with job stress in teachers. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 69, 517-531. Howard, S. & Johnson, B. (2004). Resilient teachers: Resisting stress and burnout. Social Psychology of Education, 7(4), 399-420. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/docview/821717702/3BC070110EC84D28PQ/3?accountid=15115 Huebner, E.S., Gilligan, T.D., & Cobb, H. (2002). Best practices in preventing and managing stress and burnout. In A. Thomas & J. Grimes (Eds.) Best Practices in School Psychology IV. Bethesda, MD: NASP Publications.Klassen, R. M., & Ming , C. (2010). Effects on teachers' self-efficacy and job satisfaction: Teacher gender, years of experience, and job stress. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(3), 741-756.  Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2012). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen. San Francisco, CA.

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Literature ContinuedKyriacou, C. (2001). Teacher stress: Directions for future research. Educational Review, 53(1), 28-35. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=4b6ed655-c507-4fc1-99b7-3f44422ce277%40sessionmgr4006&vid=9&hid=4109

http://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/Resources/Educ/CAMHPS/Coping%20with%20teacher%20burnout.pdf

 Sterrett, W., & Irizarry, E. (2015). Beyond "autopsy data": Bolstering teacher leadership, morale, and school improvement. Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership, 18(1), 3-13. Retrieved from https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1697505131?accountid=15115

Stone Kessler, S., & Snodgrass, A. M. (2014). The house that affirmation builds. Educational Leadership, 71(5), 60-63.

Tschannen-Moran, M., & Tschannen-Moran, B. (2014). What to Do When Your School's in a bad mood. Educational Leadership, 71(5), 36-41.

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P.S. Let’s help each other!!! If you have a health and wellness tip that you would like to share with the group, feel free to add it to the list below. We can compile a list of personal “to do’s” and send it to all members of our cohort.

1. Tip #1: For a soothing after school bath, add the following to your bath water: - 2 cups of Epsom salts, 3 drops of lavender oil, 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. The Epsom salts are comprised of magnesium sulfate, which act as a muscle relaxant. The lavender is known for soothing headaches and helping to restore sleep. The coconut oil is known for keeping skin smooth and nourished. Best to do this before bedtime to ensure a restful transition into sleep. (Christina)

2. For those interested in using a yoga technique to help unwind and reduce stress, consider trying a yoga nidra for sleep meditation. I have used this MANY times while laying in bed and have fallen asleep to this meditation before the meditation is even done. You can access this yoga nidra at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfIikxpis9s Namaste, Laura

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