The teaching profession is at an inflection point that could shape the course of the profession for the next generation of educators and students. Teachers have been reporting high levels of burnout and disillusionment—borne initially from the hardships of teaching in a pandemic and exacerbated by the escalating academic, social, and mental health needs of students.
What can district leaders, school leaders, and teachers themselves do to turn this tide of low morale and dissatisfaction? During this forum, you will get exclusive data and insights from our recent report on The State of Teaching to:
- Understand the mindsets, attitudes, and experiences of teachers
- Learn what teachers want out of professional development, planning time, and other issues that affect their job satisfaction
- Hear best practices from teachers and principals on how to improve teacher morale and longevity
- Discover solutions for building and sustaining this critical profession
First time K-12 Essentials Forum attendee? Learn more about our free virtual forums.
Agenda
2:00pm ET
Welcome & Introduction
We’ll highlight key insights from recent reporting on the state of teaching in K-12 education.
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor of Education Week.
2:10pm ET
Interactive Session: The Teacher Morale Index
Answer questions about morale and see how the results compare to our nationally representative survey of teachers and principals.
Sterling Lloyd manages the development of surveys and data analyses for the Education Week Research Center.
2:20pm ET
Industry Perspective: Reignite Teachers’ Hearts & Revitalize Classroom Culture
Sponsor content provided by GoNoodle.
Our time together is driven by the essential component needed for creating a positive classroom culture - teachers' hearts. Morale in schools is on the rise and is further bolstered by a sense of empathy for the heart-based work that teachers do daily. Let’s inspire them and build their confidence to utilize routines that equip their students (and themselves) with vital social-emotional literacy, understanding, and skills that have the power to revitalize classrooms and elevate school culture.
Our time together is driven by the essential component needed for creating a positive classroom culture - teachers' hearts. Morale in schools is on the rise and is further bolstered by a sense of empathy for the heart-based work that teachers do daily. Let’s inspire them and build their confidence to utilize routines that equip their students (and themselves) with vital social-emotional literacy, understanding, and skills that have the power to revitalize classrooms and elevate school culture.
Sitaara Jones
Director of Community & DEI,
GoNoodle
Sitaara Jones has been with GoNoodle for 9 years serving as the Director of Community and DEI. She is a former educator with a passion for improving the educator experience, uplifting diverse voices and working with students, teachers, and families in underserved communities.
2:30pm ET
Panel Discussion: A Deeper Look at Teacher Morale
Teachers feel more negative than positive about their profession, according to the EdWeek Research Center’s Teacher Morale Index, a new gauge of teachers’ levels of confidence in—and enthusiasm about—their work. But morale looks different for elementary teachers than it does for high school teachers. It looks different in suburban schools than it does in rural ones. Principals have a different view of their teachers’ morale than teachers themselves, including what some key sources of low morale are. See exclusive new data that paints a detailed picture of the health of the teaching profession.
Stephen Sawchuk is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of teaching, learning, and curriculum.
Holly Kurtz is the director of the EdWeek Research Center.
3:15pm ET
Industry Perspective: Empower Educators with Strategies for Student Engagement
Sponsor content provided by Be GLAD.
Discover the trnsformative power of tools and strategies to boost student engagement and comprehension. These research-based strategies are designed for effortless implementation and empower educators to cultivate dynamic, inclusive classrooms. By integrating these practices, students become active participants in their learning journey. As teachers witness the profound impact on student achievement, their confidence and morale soar. Embrace these strategies to enrich your teaching toolkit and unlock the potential for both you and your students to thrive.
Discover the trnsformative power of tools and strategies to boost student engagement and comprehension. These research-based strategies are designed for effortless implementation and empower educators to cultivate dynamic, inclusive classrooms. By integrating these practices, students become active participants in their learning journey. As teachers witness the profound impact on student achievement, their confidence and morale soar. Embrace these strategies to enrich your teaching toolkit and unlock the potential for both you and your students to thrive.
Jabbar Beig
Trainer & Partnership Leader,
Be GLAD
Jabbar Beig’s diverse career spans roles as a teacher, administrator, researcher, keynote speaker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA MFT#43008), Certified Project GLAD® Key Trainer, Authorized Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Trainer for the Arizona Department of Education, and child advocate. He has co-authored over 100 books and articles. He was honored as the Trainer of the Year in 2010 and Executive of the Year in 2017. Currently with Be GLAD and Uplevel, he empowers teachers with a field-tested instructional system that has eliminated the achievement gap in schools.
3:25pm ET
A Conversation: Professional Development That Teachers Actually Want
PD—its frequency and its relevance—has a significant impact on how teachers feel about their jobs. And strikingly, if not surprisingly, teachers and principals are not exactly in sync on this issue. Is more autonomy for teachers to choose their PD the answer? What should principals and district leaders do to optimize PD for teachers? Hear both the teacher and administrator perspective.
Olina Banerji is a reporter for Education Week who covers school leadership.
William Prue
Teacher,
North Country Union High School, VT
Bill Prue teaches various instrumental music classes at North Country Union High School. He has been teaching for 26 years, splitting his time between elementary and high school. Prue is a recipient of The 2024/25 Rowland Fellowship.
Chistopher Young
Principal,
North Country Union High School, VT
Chris Young is the principal of North Country Union High School, the Vermont State Coordinator for NASSP, the 2023 Vermont Principal of the Year, and the 2023 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year. He is in his 23rd year as a public school principal.
3:55pm ET
Industry Perspective: (Im)Practical Ways to Support Teacher Morale
Sponsor content provided by Unruly Studios.
Join us for an interactive discussion around practical (and some not-so-practical) ways to support teacher morale. Get insights on data from principals around uplifting teachers and actionable suggestions from the teachers we work with. Discover:
Join us for an interactive discussion around practical (and some not-so-practical) ways to support teacher morale. Get insights on data from principals around uplifting teachers and actionable suggestions from the teachers we work with. Discover:
- How NOT to boost teacher morale, according to ChatGPT
- Practical ideas for uplifting teachers based on data collected from principals and teachers
Kayla Vargas
School Success Manager,
Unruly Studios
Kayla Vargas is a former teacher turned School Success Manager at Unruly Studio. With nine years in education and two years in her current role, she’s all about making learning fun! Off duty, you’ll find her cuddling cats and creating cool content for social media. Kayla brings passion and playfulness to everything she does, whether it’s shaping young minds or crafting the perfect video content.
4:05pm ET
Interactive Session: Next Steps on Teacher Morale
Share action items from the forum and ideas for improving teacher morale and motivation.
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor of Education Week.
Stephen Sawchuk is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of teaching, learning, and curriculum.
4:15pm ET
Closing Thoughts
Hear the big takeaways from the forum.
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor of Education Week.
