Opinion: Teacher burnout and the teacher shortage

In Omaha’s schools, there are currently 3,445 teachers. However, in May of 2022, over 1,400 educators and staff resigned from their teaching positions, opting to pursue other careers or perhaps teach in different districts or schools.

These numbers have increased significantly following the pandemic, primarily due to teacher burnout. Factors contributing to this burnout include covering classes due to understaffing, an unhealthy work-life balance, and insufficient support for self-care.

Jenna Workman, a teacher interviewed for Omaha Magazine’s “Teacher Retention: A Failing Curriculum” article, expressed her experience, stating, “Over time, I started to feel demoralized. It increased as the years went on. I value education so much, so as I was constantly working so hard to give my best to my students, [but] it was always at the expense of my own life and my own wellness.”

During her nine years as a teacher, Workman experienced increasing stress, leading to mental burnout, which ultimately impacted her professional life. Her story mirrors that of many teachers across the nation, who initially love their job but gradually become tired and disheartened.

Many departing teachers also cite dissatisfaction with the administration’s lack of support, both for themselves and their students. Kristen Hansen, another teacher interviewed in the Omaha Magazine article, remarked, “It was always for an evaluation or just watching you teach. I don’t need that. I just needed them to come in and see what I do every day, or if there was a student struggling, come in and observe and come up with ideas how to best serve that student.”

Hansen mentioned receiving only one or two visits from administration during her entire last school year. Feeling ignored when suggesting ideas to administrators, coupled with burnout, led her to resign and seek another job.

It’s crucial for teachers to feel seen and heard. Money is not the sole reason for their departure; various other factors come into play, and they urgently need support before the nation faces a shortage of educators.