While students often look up to their teachers, admin, counselors, and school deputies for support and guidance, the toll these roles take on the staff is often overlooked.
In the strict environment of today’s schools, where educators and staff are juggling academics, student well-being, and safety concerns, the question arises: Who supports the supporters? Understanding how school employees manage their mental health while balancing their responsibilities becomes more necessary.
Westwood always makes sure we have the best support system and resources available to help us. From our counselors to the number on our I.D. Do the employees have to use these resources too? Do the teachers ever become burnt out like us? ELA teacher, Ms. Santiago-Green shared her thoughts:
“My mental health tends to suffer when I’m overwhelmed with assignments and held to expectations that aren’t applied consistently across the board. (But) the admin team the board. (But) the admin team promotes a supportive environment because they understand the facets and challenges of life. I appreciate them for being personable and approachable.”
Throughout a teacher’s career, their mental health usually tends to go downhill, stay neutral, or even go up! Ms. Minor said hers has changed at times.
“Coming into this career after no child left behind, when I first started everything was 100% student-focused. Because of that, I worked long hours, grading, coaching, and sponsoring activities all to pour into students. It wasn’t actually until year 8, when the breaks seemed further apart that I realized my personal cup was nearly empty.”
While teachers such as Mrs. Green and Mrs. Bunch find ways to balance their mental health in learning environments other staff like counselors also face significant mental health challenges. Social worker Mrs. Bunch shares how she deals with her frustrations when it comes to clients.
“When I see someone giving up or just not trying, I need to remind myself that I can not work harder than the client. (So,) I stop and breathe and ground myself in my surroundings.”
According to the American Federation of Teachers, statistics show nearly 75% of educators reported experiencing job-related stress frequently, and 59% were thinking about leaving the profession due to the toll on their mental health.
Due to this unfortunate high statistic, I also asked Ms. Bunch if she had any advice for anyone wanting to work in this profession. “Build Relationships, and find your tribe of support. Find a mentor. One for whom there is mutual respect. Who will listen? Who will guide you in your journey and speak their truth, even if they disagree? And trust is everything.
Giving attention to the mental health of school employees, like teachers and counselors at Westwood High, is mandatory for maintaining a good school environment.
While resources are available, it’s up to the school employees to make sure they are used as staff members like Ms. Santiago-Green, Ms. Minor, and Ms. Bunch show, that self-care, and a supportive workplace are key to balancing personal well-being with academic responsibilities.
By prioritizing mental health, Westwood teachers can continue to offer their best to the students who rely on them.
