Mental Health Matters: Building a Sustainable Future for Educators
Location
Room 124
Start Date
28-2-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
28-2-2025 10:40 AM
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Caroline Crawford is is a senior at Georgia College & State University majoring in Special Education. She is currently student teaching in an inclusive elementary classroom for Jones County. Caroline is from Forsyth County, Georgia.
Second Presenter's Brief Biography
Kensley Bennett is a senior in the special education program at Georgia College & State University. She is a member of Delta Gamma fraternity and currently student teaches special education at Midway Hills Primary School. Kensley is from Atlanta.
Third Presenter's Brief Biography
Emma Romeo is a senior special education major at Georgia College & State University. She is currently the vice president of the GCSU chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children and is currently student teaching at Dames Ferry Elementary. Emma is from Fairfield Connecticut.
Fourth Presenter's Brief Biography
Reagan Johnson is a senior special education major at Georgia College & State University. She is currently the Community Outreach Chair for the GCSU chapter of the CEC and is currently student teaching at Dames Ferry Elementary. Reagan is from Thomasville, Georgia.
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Presentation Type
Concurrent Session
Any type of session
Abstract
Teachers who are mentally healthy are better equipped to create a positive, engaging, and supportive learning environment. Stress or burnout can hinder their ability to manage classrooms effectively and connect with students. In this session, we will discuss some strategies that can help support teachers’ mental well-being.
Conference Strands
Induction Teachers (3 years or fewer)
Description
Teaching is a highly rewarding but often very demanding profession, and safeguarding mental health is essential for teachers to maintain a sustainable and positive work-life balance. In this presentation, we will discuss some strategies that can help support teachers’ mental well-being.
These strategies include:
1. Setting Boundaries with Work Hours: We recommend setting a specific time to stop grading, planning, or responding to emails.
2. Incorporating Daily Self-care: We will provide examples small practices, like short meditation sessions, journaling, or spending 10 minutes on a hobby.
3. Build a Supportive Network: We will stress the importance of fostering connections with colleagues. Creating a support network among teachers provides a space to share experiences and feel understood. We also recommend seeking mentorship by connecting with an experienced teacher or coach who can provide guidance and emotional support.
4. Practice Time Management and Organization: We will discuss Plan realistic goals for each week to avoid being overwhelmed and grouping similar activities (like grading) to increase efficiency and reduce scattered focus.
5. Take Mental Health Days When Needed: If you’re feeling particularly stressed or overwhelmed, we thing there is nothing wrong with taking a day off to recharge can help prevent long-term burnout.
6. Advocate for Systemic Support: We will encourage open dialogues with administration about realistic workloads, class sizes, and supportive mental health policies and seek out or suggest staff wellness programs like yoga, mindfulness workshops, or team-building activities.
Incorporating even a few of these strategies can go a long way in helping teachers manage the stress of their jobs and prioritize their mental health.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Mental Health Matters: Building a Sustainable Future for Educators
Room 124
Teachers who are mentally healthy are better equipped to create a positive, engaging, and supportive learning environment. Stress or burnout can hinder their ability to manage classrooms effectively and connect with students. In this session, we will discuss some strategies that can help support teachers’ mental well-being.
