What happens when teachers are encouraged to ask for support, but worry that doing so will count against them? In this episode of Real Talk About Educator Burnout, physical education teacher Derek Bradbury shares his experiences across 12 years in education. From losing planning periods to taking on unexpected duties, Derek describes how the demands surrounding teaching can leave educators stretched thin before they even begin a lesson.

We talk about student behavior, the emotional impact of responding to a crisis, and what happens when staff are expected to keep going without meaningful follow-up support. Derek also reflects on choosing part-time work for his family and exploring other ways to contribute to education. Throughout the conversation, we return to the importance of trust, clear expectations, and teachers, administrators, parents, and students working together.

In this episode you'll hear...

• How extra duties and lost planning time push schoolwork into teachers’ personal and family time.
• The challenges of meeting different student needs while managing behavior and pressure around standardized testing.
• Why asking for classroom support can feel risky when teachers believe it may affect their evaluations.
• The lasting emotional impact of a student crisis and the need to support the educators involved.
• What clearer communication, adequate staffing, and stronger partnerships could mean for educator wellness and retention.

Let's Connect:

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What happens when you spend your days supporting everyone else and have little left for yourself or your family? School social worker Emily Earnest shares how eight years in an elementary school shaped her love for the work—and how constant crisis response, growing responsibilities, and repeated exposure to student trauma eventually became unsustainable.

In this episode of Real Talk About Educator Burnout, Emily reflects on emotional exhaustion, the relationships that made leaving difficult, and her decision to move to a new school and set different boundaries. We also explore why educator wellness requires more than reminders about self-care, and how adequate staffing, meaningful staff input, and school systems that prioritize emotional safety can better support both adults and students.

In this episode you'll hear...

• How daily crisis response and exposure to student trauma affected Emily’s emotional well-being and life at home.
• Why supportive colleagues mattered—and why those relationships also made changing schools difficult.
• How Emily recognized she needed a change and set boundaries around committees, work at home, and family time.
• Why self-care recommendations fall short when the conditions contributing to educator burnout stay the same.
• How staffing, educator voice, and attention to each school’s needs can support emotional regulation and create space for learning.

Resources Mentioned:

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Let's Connect:

Website: https://willowtreewellnesscoaching.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillowTreeWellnessCo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowtreewellnesscoaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/willow-tree-wellness-llc/

Join Our Facebook Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondburnouteducators

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What happens when you spend your school day supporting everyone else, then get home feeling like you have nothing left for your own family? Hannah, a school social worker with 13 years of experience in the social work field, joins us to talk honestly about the emotional demands of caring for students, supporting teachers, and responding to daily crises.

Hannah shares how she learned to protect her time, recognize the weight of others’ trauma, and set boundaries that helped her be more present at home. We also explore what schools can do to support educator well-being, from providing trauma-informed training and additional staff to moving meetings into the school day. As Hannah considers whether private practice might be her next step, we discuss the working conditions that can make staying in education difficult—and why the difference you make may become visible years later.

In this episode you'll hear...

• How growing caseloads, daily crises, and competing responsibilities contribute to school social worker burnout.
• Why trauma-informed practices include understanding both students’ experiences and the personal stress adults bring into the classroom.
• How boundaries around email, lunch breaks, and bringing work home helped Hannah protect time and energy for her family.
• What supportive school leadership can look like, including listening to staff, adding personnel, and protecting time outside contract hours.
• Why building connections with students matters, even when you don’t get to see the long-term impact of your work.

Let's Connect:

Website: https://willowtreewellnesscoaching.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillowTreeWellnessCo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willowtreewellnesscoaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/willow-tree-wellness-llc/

Join Our Facebook Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondburnouteducators

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.