The US is facing critical teacher shortages, with burnout, demoralization, and attrition rife. Job satisfaction is at an all time low, and enrollment numbers for new teachers have shrunk by up to 35% in a decade. Some states have called in the military to teach, others have relaxed certification requirements, some are even zooming in teachers to classrooms. Over half of all US teachers are reportedly considering leaving the profession within the next 2 years, though some states report numbers as high as 66% .
If even 10% of them actually leave it will cripple our public education system as we know it.Research has shown that teachers are THE MOST IMPORTANT influence on student achievement, and there is a direct link between teacher outlook (including wellness, mental health, and job satisfaction) and student outcomes. Since teacher shortages impact schools with traditionally underserved communities at higher rates, it clearly results in less equitable access to future economic opportunity.
Having spent almost a decade in education as an advocate, service provider, board member, teacher, trainer, curriculum writer, policy roundtable member, and parent, Nadine Levitt established Inspired Educ8ion to run the teacher well-being initiative
PD Reimagined (stands for professional development reimagined) to reverse demoralization and burnout using evidence-based strategies from other sectors (specifically corporate and defense).
PD Reimagined is a year-long program that up-skills teachers in self-care, inspires them, makes them feel valued and honored and connects them with a supportive peer community that helps strengthen their sense of purpose.
We are looking to raise $250,000 so we can:
- Improve the perceived wellness, mental health and job satisfaction of at least 500 teachers, with monthly inspiration boxes, virtual summits, toolkits and resources, access to local events, connection to a supportive community, micro-credential opportunities, and teacher appreciation discounts and experiences.
- We will continue to add to the 170+ corporate partners who have committed to improving the social standing of teachers with discounts and experiences etc.
- A research team will identify the influencing factors that mitigate teacher burnout within specific ecologies (including whole schools, partial schools & individual teachers), to be shared broadly through traditional & digital media partners & our newsletter.
Every child should have access to high quality education. But without teachers that's not possible. To feed the potential of our future thinkers we must invest in educators, so that they have the necessary self-care skills, feel valued & connected, inspired and purpose driven.
Thank you for considering supporting our work!