Episode: 622

Episode Title: Free Up Teachers: Impact Week 2022

How can we free up teachers so they have the time to build a human connection with students? This top Perna Syndicate episode from 2022 is coming up next!

Ep 622 show:

It’s Impact Week on The Perna Syndicate, where we revisit the most popular episodes from this past year. This one’s vital: what can we take off teachers’ plates?

Understaffing has plagued education for years, but it has now become a truly massive problem. Something must change, before the exodus of resigning teachers cripples our education system beyond repair.

Previously, we’ve talked about asking educators what they need and not preaching self-care to them. Today, I want to propose another very simple strategy: we need to take stuff off teachers’ plates. 

What happens if teachers don’t do all the busy work they’re supposed to do? I mean, what really happens? Will it change anything in the classroom experience? 

In our current climate, it’s highly unlikely they’ll be fired for not checking all the boxes. So what if we take the busy work away and free teachers to focus solely on the mission-critical tasks? 

Administrators need to be asking themselves, how can we lighten the load for teachers—effective immediately? What can we take off their plate to give them more time to focus on the all-important task of connecting with students? 

Students will not move forward without a human connection with their teachers. Teachers need time and energy to forge that connection. As the pressure builds, something has to give—so let’s make it the non-essential tasks, rather than the teachers.

Tomorrow: What happens if students, not just teachers, decide to quit? Tune in next time on The Perna Syndicate for another high-impact episode. See you then!