Episode: 413

Episode Title: Is It Worth It Anymore?

Educators everywhere are asking themselves if it’s worth it anymore. How they answer that question may depend on us. Stay tuned for more, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 413 show:

Welcome to The Perna Syndicate! If you ask an educator why they chose their profession, they’ll usually answer that they wanted to make a positive difference in the world. This is what drives them to give so much, every day. Before, it was taken for granted that it was all worth the investment. But now, they’re not so sure. 

The long hours. The mental and physical exhaustion. The enormous scrutiny and public criticism. Teachers, administrators, and counselors alike are starting to wonder if it’s all worth it.

Dr. Bishop says it wasn’t that way when the pandemic started. At the beginning, the feeling was that you don’t leave your children/community when the storm starts. But now that the pandemic has dragged on for longer than anyone expected, there’s a very real feeling that maybe, it’s no longer worth the fight. 

School leaders especially are feeling this weight. Dr. Bishop says the constant barrage of communication never allows administrators to pause to regroup or re-energize. It’s just one more facet of a high-pressure role that has become even more challenging in the wake of the pandemic. 

If we, as a culture, don’t adjust our expectations for educators, soon we won’t have any. They’re working hard, they’re giving their all. It’s up to us, within our own community, to help them answer “yes” when they ask themselves: is it worth it anymore? 

Trust is essential in any organization, and schools are no exception. So how can we rebuild it? On the next episode of The Perna Syndicate, we’ll cover some practical strategies to do just that. See you then!