{"id":36389,"date":"2025-02-10T11:16:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T16:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/?p=36389"},"modified":"2025-02-28T14:58:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T19:58:38","slug":"teacher-morale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/teacher-morale\/","title":{"rendered":"How principals can boost teacher morale and motivation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The teacher morale crisis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, teacher morale hit an all-time low<\/a>, and although it has improved since then, it remains significantly lower than it used to be. But why is that? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tim Pressley is trying to answer that question. Pressley is a professor of psychology at Christopher Newport University who studies teacher morale, development, and effectiveness, and, more recently, the impact of COVID-19 on teachers. Of the decline in morale, Pressley says, \u201cTeachers were burned out, had no job satisfaction, low morale during the pandemic, and that has just continued as we\u2019ve come out of this pandemic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the pandemic, teachers became frontline workers and were lauded as such. But the return to the classroom hasn\u2019t been seamless. Teachers are faced with increased scrutiny and politicization, gaps in student understanding, and navigating mental health concerns for both students and themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With high teacher turnover an ongoing concern<\/a>, the issue of bolstering teacher morale is more important than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How teacher morale affects learning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Teacher morale directly impacts the quality of their teaching and job retention, which in turn affects student learning and their overall educational experience. Challenges like larger class sizes, increased daily responsibilities, and student behavioral issues have all affected teacher wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study linked the loss of a teacher<\/a> during the school year to the loss of between 32 and 72 instructional days for students. Other research shows that more than a third of teachers anticipate leaving their current school<\/a> within the next four years. This turnover can lead to significant costs for schools, in terms of both student learning and the budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

High job satisfaction is tied to<\/a> increased productivity, stronger relationships, lower absenteeism, and higher employee retention, all of which lead to an overall increased performance or output. This is why improving teacher morale is critical.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether at the elementary, middle school, or high school level, fostering a culture of collaboration and recognition can lead to better outcomes for both teachers and students. Teachers are the heart of a school, and school leaders need to be the stewards of their schools, looking after teacher wellbeing and community as well as student achievement. By making intentional efforts to be aware of and address your teachers\u2019 thoughts, concerns, and needs, you can build a supportive environment where they feel recognized, supported, and valued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a principal, how can you help boost teacher morale in an intentional way?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to raise teacher morale with Nearpod<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nearpod is an educational platform<\/a> built with teachers in mind. While it can\u2019t solve all your problems, it can give teachers the support they need in the classroom. Our interactive content engages students in authentic and meaningful ways and provides teachers with real-time data that they can use to tailor their instructional approach. Not only does Nearpod help personalize students\u2019 learning journeys, it also bolsters teachers\u2019 professional capacity to meet school and district goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New to Nearpod? <\/strong><\/strong>Teachers can sign up for free below to access these resources, interactive activities, and engaging lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Teachers: Sign up for free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Administrators: Schedule a call<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How principals can boost teacher morale<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boosting morale is about more than a small token of appreciation; it means opening yourself up to conversation and feedback, thinking through your processes, and creating meaningful opportunities for development. Try these teacher morale boosters in your school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ask for candid feedback<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When thinking about how to boost teacher morale, don’t forget to ask teachers themselves.  <\/s>Feedback from your teachers is invaluable. It gives you the opportunity to open a dialogue where their voices and concerns can be heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too often, teachers feel like decisions come from above and are handed down without their input. Highlight how much you value them by including teachers in conversations around key decision points. Ask for and listen to their opinions. When an issue arises, make room for teachers to be part of the problem–<\/s>solving<\/span>. This will lift some administrative burden, ensure more buy-in for proposed solutions, and recognize the value of teachers\u2019 experiences and expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a data-informed approach to creating an action plan that prioritizes areas of need identified by teachers as well as other stakeholders, such as your school board or other school and district staff. Hearing from multiple voices and perspectives can help you consider things differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poll<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Administering a school climate survey<\/a> is an effective way to get input from everyone. You can then use the data from that survey to inform your goals as a school or district. Nearpod can help you distribute your school climate survey via a URL, participation code, or QR code. Once surveys have been completed, you can then use Nearpod to share results and key takeaways. You can even dig further into the numbers using an interactive Poll or Collaborate Board activity to further unpack findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By sharing that feedback with your teachers and other staff, and then acting based on that feedback, you aren’t just telling them you\u2019re listening, you\u2019re showing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Invite teachers to the table<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Too often, educators feel like decisions come from above and are handed down without their input. Highlight how much you value your staff by including them in conversations around key decision points. Show that they are stakeholders by asking for and listening to their opinions. When an issue arises, make room for teachers to be part of the problem solving. You will ensure more buy-in for the proposed solutions. In addition, not only will you lift some of your administrative burden, you will also be raising the visibility of teachers\u2019 experiences and expertise. Plus, teachers are a wealth of innovation and imagination! Leadership is about cultivating a culture of mutual respect: <\/p>\n\n\n\n