In this episode, Franchesca interviews Dr. Renee Heiberger and Vanessa Hardaway as they discuss the realities of teacher burnout and dispel the many myths around this topic. Prior to Covid-19, the statistics of teachers leaving the profession within five years was around fifty percent. However, since the nation entered a pandemic this year, the amount of stress and burnout is on the rise. Teachers are now being asked to take on two roles (face-to-face and online) at the same time every day and it is taking a toll on educators across the nation. Based on these statistics, retention is clearly a serious concern. The educational system must continue to develop ways to appeal and draw in new teachers, but it is just as important for the system to retain the high-quality teachers who are still in the profession. When leaders and teachers can identify and address compassion fatigue and burnout, then powerful conversations can help to improve staff retention and reduce anxiety and stress.

In a dynamic and entertaining way, Dr. Renee Heiberger and Ms. Vanessa Hardaway will discuss the symptoms and causes of burnout as well as give solutions they believe will help leaders and teachers deal with stress and beat burnout. Dr. Heiberger’s research from her doctoral dissertation on teacher burnout lays the foundation for describing the consequences of burnout teachers face and Vanessa’s sense of humor, numerous stories, and real-life examples make her ideas clear and accessible to her audiences. As experienced and esteemed public speakers, Renee and Vanessa aim to deliver education, inspiration, and entertainment to a variety of audiences. They inspire educators in an authentic way that leaves them revived and rejuvenated.