Education
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
Mental well-being—for both teachers and students—and the resources needed to achieve that were billed as a top priority in the newest 2023 Texas Teacher Poll from the Charles Butt Foundation. This year’s report, released Sept. 5, emphasized the “hearts and minds of teachers,” said Melissa Garza, Charles Butt Foundation research associate. The newest survey findings show 75% of teachers have considered leaving the profession. Results show many are worried about increasing workloads with shrinking resources. This number is slightly down from last year but higher than 2020. Combined with that is a number of teachers who don’t feel mentally well at their job. Pay also is a stressor, with the vast majority, 81%, reporting they feel underpaid. Poll: Teachers need resources
Also of note
The bottom line
The recent legislative session didn’t yield much for education challenges across Texas, said Bob Popinski, senior director of policy for Raise Your Hand Texas, a nonprofit aimed at promoting public policy. Meanwhile, polling from Charles Butt shows teachers feel responsible for not only teaching but for promoting mental health and safety. While 80% said they feel they have support and resources needed to allow students to be their “genuine self,” half said they didn’t have adequate training or support to respond to a student mental health crisis, according to the report. The Charles Butt poll on public spending shows teachers support a pay increase, along with: • Resources for students’ mental needs • Security • Addressing COVID-19-related learning gaps • Providing free meals to students. Other resources such as mentorship programs or therapy can help teachers prepare more for the role and mentally feel well, Popinski said. Looking ahead, Robison said a special legislative session aimed at addressing public schools could be coming in October, which could include public school money and teacher pay. “We’re seeing increased standards in public school but making it harder for teachers to [meet those requirements],” Popinski said.
Results show a higher number of teachers have considered leaving the profession since the COVID-19 pandemic. The increasing workload teachers are dealing with, combined with pay, are not only causing teachers to think about leaving the profession but are also prompting some to go out and look for work on the side, said Clay Robison, Texas State Teachers Associa- tion spokesperson. To that end, 41% of teachers in spring 2022 reported working a second job during the school year to make ends meet, Robison said. That number is up from 31% in spring 2016. “Teacher pay is more than $7,000 below the national average,” Robison said. ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ While 2023 saw a slight decline compared to previous years, a majority of the 1,029 teachers polled in the newest survey reported “seriously considering” leaving the profession.
Teachers considering leaving
Mental health of teachers by age A higher rate of young teachers reported their mental health was worse off compared to older teachers.
100%
75%
80%
Percent of teachers reporting only fair/poor mental health
60%
58%
40%
0% 50% 100%
20%
0
<30 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+
2020 2021 2022 2023
SOURCE: CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: CHARLES BUTT FOUNDATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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