10 Challenges Teachers Face Today (and How to Stay in Control)

Hey, Teachers!

Today's teaching landscape is rough and unpredictable, and much more so than ever before. 

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What's ailing the teaching profession isn't new but isn't getting any better. Central problems are growing branches and bleeding into every area of classroom instruction. The problems I faced 30 years ago when I began my career haven't gone away. But there are new problems. And we're right in the middle of the mess.

At the start of each new year (if we choose to come back) we feel enthusiasm for what might be, for what can be, so let's keep that perspective.

WHAT CAN TEACHERS DO TO STAY IN CONTROL NO MATTER WHAT COMES OUR WAY?

Following are 10 CHALLENGES PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FACE and how we can stay in control, overcome these challenges (and maybe even conquer some of them!)...without losing our dignity, humanity, or sense of self-worth and promise as educators.

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1. FEELING UNSAFE ON THE JOB

We might feel unsafe emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually.  The rise in student aggression and violence, low teacher self-efficacy, and sheer DRAG of showing up to work when you don't feel valued or kids don't seem to want to learn...can break us.

WHAT TO DO: 

Regarding emotions: Get them in check. Choose not to let your circumstances control your inner dialogue and peace. Fight school chaos and confusion by taming your emotions so you can be centered in your own world. Tell yourself how to think so you can respond instead of react to negative stimuli. Your emotions will be there, but don't let them take over.

Regarding mental health: Recognize what's going on with your own mental health as soon as possible so you can get the right attention. Seek professional help if you're to that point. But on the daily, if you're just coping with the effects of bad stress, find ways to lessen your load, take those personal days, connect with a teacher you trust, and know your triggers so you can anticipate them before they take you down and affect your overall sense of well-being.

Regarding physical spaces: Know what your school, district, or state policies are for school safety protocols. Are you and your colleagues trained on every type of school drill? Have you played out in your mind what you would do in the event of a rampage school shooter? Are you in denial about anything? How have you organized your classroom so you remain in charge in the event of a life-threatening circumstance?

Regarding spirituality: You may or may not be in a harmonious school environment. And your colleagues may or may not believe in spirituality the way you do. Know who you work with and what guides your school's cultural thinking about topics like humanity, love, connectivity, and the like. You may be in the fold or feel more isolated, but recognizing where you stand will give you a sense of control over your own spiritual grounding in the culture where you work.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

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2. COVID-19 REPERCUSSIONS IMPACTING STUDENT LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE

We might see unparalleled repercussions in learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a topic teachers are also likely sick of discussing. We're living the reality. Pushing onwards and upwards with what we've got is the only answer.

WHAT TO DO: 

Determine what your school, department, or grade level has agreed upon as a surefire plan for helping students to recover lost time and develop skills that they didn't have opportunities to work on during the height of the public health crisis. This might be difficult if resources are less available, including fewer teachers at your school, however, we still need to have shared goals about student learning outcomes and performance that meet our district and state requirements. Be realistic but also be proactive about helping students reach proficiency.

Working together on these goals is paramount.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

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FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM

 3. NOT ENOUGH TIME AND NOT ENOUGH FUNDING

We can't work a miracle without the tools, that's true. Time and funding are two consistent challenges in our profession that make the job hard.  This is where your creativity comes in.

WHAT TO DO: 

Buy back time: Start with the larger picture (180 days of instruction). Move from there into your months, weeks, and days. Wherever possible, scale back on what doesn't have to be done to intensify what does have to be done. Often, teachers are insistent on "doing it all" because we think that we're depriving kids of something if we don't, and we're afraid to eliminate stuff. Honestly, students don't know what's left out, and if it's left out for good reason, go for it. 

But how?

Most likely, you're hinged to a curriculum and certain standards that are required. Figure out how to deliver that information using Gen Z's approach: working smarter, not harder...Can you scale back on certain types of feedback or on what gets that feedback? Are most of your lessons student-led learning opportunities or are you dancing across the stage each day hoping young minds will stay engaged?

Also, funding, especially in schools that are failing, have infrastructure issues, and lack basic supplies, is a tough one. Depending on how bare your school is or how abundantly resourced it is, your focus remains the same: students.

But how?

What can you do with the time you are given in class, to ignite interest and accelerate learning? This is YOU the teacher, not the resources. Even without books, paper, writing tools, tech, and other necessary supplies 😥, students can learn from you. Your roadmap might look different, but you can create one. (I once lost my physical classroom because the principal made it the school office. I had to teach my Prek/1st graders with hearing loss on the yard.)

You may not get to choose your circumstance, but you can decide to make the best of your situation. 

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

Could you use a quick download to help reframe your thinking about a problem?

FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM

4. INCREASED PAPERWORK AND ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS 

Oh, admin likes to pile it on, literally. Paperwork and job duties unrelated to instruction can really weigh us down. When does it stop? It doesn't. But you control your day.

WHAT TO DO:

Say no when you can. If you have choice in the matter and taking that additional role or responsibility is going to contribute to your feelings of overwhelm, don't take on that additional role or responsibility. If you can't say no to the task, find a way to accomplish it quickly and at a time when you can creatively weave it into the rest of the school day. And don't invest all you've got into it either. Chances are, it's a tack-on for a reason.

Avoid procrastination. There are some cool books on this topic. Really, in my experience, it comes down to tackling the least desirable paperwork tasks first so they are wiped off your calendar. If you have to address this before school or on a couple of lunch breaks, do it. You'll be glad to get the thing over with that you didn't vote for, don't care about, and are doing only because admin forced you to (for whatever reason, district compliance or not). 

For other paperwork or administrative tasks that you may care a little about (like creating the holiday flyer for your grade level's after school talent show, play, or fundraiser event), do this at a time that doesn't steal from the "must-have job duties" like instructional planning and assessment. Block out the hour needed ahead of time so you aren't scrambling, and set limits on how perfect your product needs to be.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

Could you use a quick download to help reframe your thinking about a problem?

FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM 

5. UNCARING ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS

Ooh, that's a rough one.  If you're new to teaching and haven't had a run-in yet, you might at some point. Uncaring administrators and supervisors are really just troubled people in management positions. But the problem is, they can make our lives MISERABLE.

WHAT TO DO?

Stay a team player. The image you portray of yourself as interested in the collective good of faculty and students makes a difference in not being targeted by admin. Also, you want to remain congenial and kind. Avoid running your mouth, being obstinate or non-compliant, political, and opinionated, on all accounts. Know what kinds of battles are worth fighting because fighting for the things you care about but target you as being a difficult teacher can lead to painful outcomes.

Get to your administrator or supervisor first. In a bind with a student or parent/guardian? Another colleague read your intentions wrong? Someone sent you an angry or nasty email? Yep, you got it. Head straight to the administrator or supervisor who you report to. Tell your version of the story (accurately), first, and with the goal of resolution in mind. The sooner you can advocate for yourself, the better. Otherwise, the story of what really happened can get misconstrued and you're left defending a position.

Study the psychology of your supervisor.  What kind of person governs decision-making at your school? Many administrators are traditional and conservative. Many administrators seem to like being in charge and controlling what happens. You may be fortunate to have an administrator who truly builds human capital at your school site, and cares about you. The bottom line is: learn how your supervisor thinks. 

You'll make your own decisions on what you share and how much you share about a situation, based on that knowledge. 

(Obviously, if you're in hot water because you broke the law or your professional code of ethics, be sure to comply with school policies and the law.)

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

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FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM 

6. UNRULY STUDENTS AND UPSET PARENTS

Teaching is getting trickier, but it's still a worthwhile profession.  How do we exude a love of learning, and build strong teaching skills when it feels like the world's against us? Students are angrier, suffering from a myriad of increased mental health issues, and parents and guardians often don't seem to be on our side.

WHAT TO DO:

Decide why you're here. When we lead with love, we really can't fail. We may not ever see the positive outcome, but at least we stand firmly knowing that we gave it our all, with the right attitude and the best practices in place. 

If you're not sure if you can show love and caring to students despite the hardships they (and their parents/guardians) may sling at you on the daily, then the undercurrent propelling your teaching mission is at risk. Students are formative. We have a unique power of influence as educators. Use that to your advantage. It's hard to fight with someone who's asking how to be of help. It's hard to hate someone who says the student's best interest is all that matters. Be the example of student advocacy you wish all your colleagues would imitate.

But how?

Magnify the positive.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

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FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM

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7. BULLYING AND STUDENT SELF-HARM OR SUICIDE

The student struggle is real. Cyberbullying is frightening. We're seeing younger and younger students hopelessly committing suicide. Depression and anxiety are rampant.

WHAT TO DO?

If your school doesn't have an anti-bullying program, now is the time to address what you and your colleagues can do to support students and address red flag concerns. Promoting safety at school is an urgent societal matter before it's a school matter.   

Educate. Educate. Educate. Open communication and dialogue about what's plaguing our youth is crucial in today's educational climate. Be a voice of support for kids. Learn what the signs of self-harm or suicide are (both obvious and not obvious). Learn how trauma affects both students and teachers. Hold PD trainings at school that are not one-shot deals, rather, consistent learning opportunities about bullying and suicide. 

Develop an appropriate internal tracking system at school, that could contain confidential notes and concerns about individual students. Talk about how this can be done legally to safeguard students and to promote awareness among the current teaching team who would have legal access to those records.

Focus on prevention. Always.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

Could you use a quick download to help reframe your thinking about a problem?

FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM

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8. INEQUITIES INCLUDING RACISM AND TRANSGENDER/QUEER DISCRIMINATION 

In some states, talking about social inequities in class may be forbidden. In other states, racism, equity, and being transgender or queer remain topics you might be able to discuss as part of your emphasis of human rights in the curriculum. How much we understand about the roots of racism in American history (this spans centuries even prior to the birth of the nation), depends on how much we've studied, experienced personally, and recognize to be true in policy-making. How much we understand about social injustice, including the plight of persons who identify as transgender or queer, also depends on our individual knowledge and openness. 

That said...

We should care about our country despite cultural, legislative, and political wrongs involving social injustice.

But we don't all have the liberty of discussing that on our jobs. Not with laws against Critical Race Theory (CRT) instruction (which has been confusing to me because I don't believe the majority of teachers ever had CRT on the daily agenda), or laws that prohibit the discussion of race at all (which is a big problem because it's completely non-progressive).

The laws that silence teachers or prevent us from acknowledging student needs directly, can be damaging. Policies that have arisen from the book banning movement, stripping LGBTQIA+ concerns and stories off the library shelves...can make us cringe, wondering how we're going to service ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, of all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, creeds, and so forth. We're supposed to encourage all of our students to thrive, and to see themselves in any content centered on the human condition.

But many of us are bound by laws that hamper this process and try to make the study of the living experience homogenous instead of diverse.

WHAT TO DO:

Follow school, district, and state policies. Your liberties as an employee are governed by what the policies are at your school. Don't go against the grain and get yourself written up, fired harassed, or threatened. Your role as a public school employee can be difficult if new laws prevent authenticity, but challenging those policies head-on and non-compliantly likely won't have positive outcomes.

Be there for kids. Find creative ways to listen to your students' concerns, and to let them know you care about them individually. That's what most important. Student life lessons don't come from curriculum. They come from connecting with teachers who help them to be better people.

Identify your own values and know who you are inside. No school policy, politician, or manager can change who you are individually, personally, and outside of school parameters. Posting political or controversial sentiments on social media or in other public venues probably isn't the best choice. But you should still know your beliefs and values, the things that define you, and how you want to raise your own kids.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

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FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM

 9. SCHOOL POLICIES AND REFORM THAT DON'T HELP, BUT HURT

Research has shown that reform policies do little to really change what we're doing in the classroom. If there's one thing I've learned on the job, it's that federal laws in education (and state laws) rarely seem to be etched in stone. The tides change. But sometimes, there are casualties in that process. No Child Left Behind was a perfect example of reform that hurt students, schools, and teachers.

WHAT TO DO?

Recognize your limitations. You work for the state. You don't get to decide what legislators pass or don't pass. You also don't get to decide what happens at the federal level. You do get to decide what you do with the information and how you and your colleagues implement the new reform policies, keeping students' best interests in mind. 

Assess the pros and cons of the new policy. How bad is it? What do you anticipate? If it's been driving inequities among your students, is there anything you can do as an honest teacher to prevent further destruction or gaps in access? What are your liberties? And how far can you go without being considered non-compliant? Issues surrounding ethical dilemmas may arise. How involved must you be in a battle against this new reform?

Be creative. Do what you must to fulfill your job duties, but look for ways to creatively engage students outside of the reform mandates. Consider your breadth and scope of influence in your department, grade level, and school, and what would be a safe move for you in the name of student learning. If you're new to the job, find a veteran teacher you can trust, who can help guide your decision-making in the classroom. 

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

Could you use a quick download to help reframe your thinking about a problem?

FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM

10. KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY 

Technology is a loaded term. It means many different things depending on the school where you teach, your personal likes and dislikes of all things digital, and your resources in the classroom. Learning tech can be frustrating, to say the least, from new programs, to AI, to using new gadgets or tools in the classroom. 

WHAT TO DO?

Do what's required. If you're a special ed teacher and your school has adopted a new program for writing IEPs, you're going to have to learn it. If your neighboring teacher uses AI virtual tutors but this doesn't fit your subject area or student needs, maybe you don't have to jump on board right now.  

Assess your levels of self-efficacy. How motivated are you to learn? What's holding you back? Who can help you with the procedural knowledge? Are you worried about how you'll look? Are you avoiding learning new tech because you think it's too hard? Who can you trust to guide you on a new tool or program?

Utilize your school's personnel. Assuming your school's budget allows for tech support (online teachers get a TON of support usually), find those technicians who are savvy on the new tool or program you're being asked to use or want to use, and set up a time to get that assistance. Don't be afraid to ask for help! 

And of course, your students likely know more than you (unless you are a Gen Z teacher). It never hurts to ask students a few questions or two about the digital world they have always known.

Looking for some ways to cope? BOOK YOUR FREE DISCOVERY CALL WITH DR. SHEA 

Could you use a quick download to help reframe your thinking about a problem?

FREE PRINTABLE: 5 WAYS TO STAY RESILIENT IN THE CLASSROOM