Why School Leaders Should Prioritize Teacher Wellness

One of my favorite memories from my decade as a 4^th grade teacher is from a professional development day. Teachers got to choose from a menu of breakout sessions based on our roles and interests, but what really stood out was the thoughtful inclusion of wellness options. There was yoga, art therapy, and even a financial wellness session, to name a few. 

This structure allowed us to invest simultaneously in our educational growth and personal well-being. It was a meaningful reminder that caring for ourselves enhances our capacity to support students and colleagues alike. 

I started my day with outdoor yoga. And while Warrior Pose may not be part of the 4^th grade curriculum, it was an incredible way to center myself before diving into the rest of the day’s learnings. It set a positive tone and helped me enter the subsequent sessions feeling refreshed, focused, and ready to engage — rather than overwhelmed. 

Teaching has always been a demanding and complex profession, but recent years have brought unprecedented challenges. For school leaders, that means prioritizing teacher wellness is more important than ever. Below are 7 ideas to help you support your teachers, strengthen their well-being, and improve school community and results.

Why Supporting Teacher Wellness is Crucial  

A recent survey from the University of Missouri shows 78% of teachers have considered quitting the profession since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sixty percent of teachers have experienced burnout, according to a 2024 RAND report, 59% report frequent job-related stress, and 22% report difficulty coping with job-related stress. 

When teachers are suffering from a wellness perspective, it impacts their ability to engage with students, collaborate with colleagues, and deliver high-quality instruction. It impacts their ability to manage classroom behavior and communicate effectively with parents and families. The ripple effects of teacher well-being — positive or negative — impact the entire school community.  

By prioritizing teacher mental health and well-being, school leaders can: 

• Improve teacher retention: Burnout is a key contributor to teachers leaving a particular school or even the profession altogether. Supporting teacher wellness can help curb turnover, saving schools the time and cost associated with rehiring.
• Enhance student outcomes: When teachers feel supported and balanced, they are better equipped to create engaging learning environments, which directly benefits student achievement.
• Foster a positive school culture: Teachers play a central role in shaping school culture. When they feel valued and cared for, it sets an example for students and encourages a culture of support and empathy. 

Investing in teacher wellness is not just a kind gesture. It’s a strategic move that strengthens the entire education ecosystem.

7 Ways to Support Teacher Wellness  

By prioritizing their mental health and well-being, you can honor teacher contributions and ensure they are equipped not just to manage the demands of the classroom, but to thrive. Here are 7 actionable ideas to support their success:  

1. Build Wellness into Professional Development  

My school’s menu-based PD day is a great example of the positive impact this can have on teachers. We learned and grew as educators that day, but the inclusion of our personal wellness multiplied the impact. You could also consider: 

• Bringing in a motivational wellness speaker, either in-person or virtually.
• Keeping sessions realistic and avoiding cramming content. Model healthy pacing, manageable expectations, and clear objectives — just like we ask teachers to do in their classrooms.
• Purchasing online courses for your teachers in financial wellness and planning. 

2. Create Dedicated Wellness Spaces  

Teachers need time and space to reset during their busy days. Consider converting an underused room into a teacher wellness lounge. Stock it with comfortable seating, calming decor, healthy snacks, and mindfulness tools, such as aromatherapy diffusers. 

Having a quiet place to retreat, even just for 10 minutes, could do wonders for stress management.  

3. Implement Flexible Scheduling  

One of the most persistent challenges for teachers is balancing instructional time with critical tasks like grading and planning. Could you help your teachers by offering occasional half-days off for collaborative planning and self-care? For duties like lunch coverage, arrival/dismissal, or tutoring, create a rotating schedule that gives teachers occasional time back for planning or personal wellness during the school day. 

4. Recognize and Celebrate Achievements  

Teaching is a profoundly impactful profession, but it’s easy for the daily efforts of educators to go unnoticed. Try celebrating wins in staff meetings, sending personalized thank-you notes, or hosting regular recognition events. 

My assistant principal would occasionally leave a simple Post-it note on my desk —celebrating small wins, complimenting my bulletin board, or acknowledging how well my class walked in the hallway. 

These handwritten notes, though small, made a big impact. They reminded me that my efforts were seen and appreciated — and that recognition made all the difference. 

You could also consider a peer nomination program to help your teachers celebrate each other’s wins as well.  

5. Partner with Wellness Professionals  

You don’t have to support teacher wellness by yourself. You could try partnering with local wellness experts or bringing in counselors, mindfulness coaches, or nutrition experts to host sessions tailored for educators.  

By tapping into community resources, you not only ease the burden on school leadership but also introduce diverse and sustainable wellness practices that meet teachers where they are. It’s a powerful way to show staff that their well-being is a priority — and that they deserve care, too. 

6. Foster Connection and Community  

Isolation can compound stress for teachers. As a leader, you can combat this feeling by creating regular opportunities for connection. This could include staff socials, book clubs, or team-building retreats, anything that builds a sense of camaraderie and reminds teachers they’re part of a supportive network.  

7. Provide Access to Mental Health Resources  

Finally, ensure all staff know where and how to access mental health resources. Whether that’s an employee assistance program, counseling services, or mental health workshops, having supports readily available shows a tangible commitment to teachers’ well-being.  

Include this information in staff handbooks, post it in shared spaces like break rooms, and revisit it regularly in staff meetings or newsletters. When mental health support is visible, accessible, and normalized, it sends a clear and powerful message: Your well-being matters, and help is always within reach. 

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