School Social Workers Can Be Teacher Allies

SPS: School Social Work

There is a growing crisis of teacher burnout in public education, with emotional exhaustion and job dissatisfaction at historic highs, and nearly 44 percent of schools reporting vacancies often tied to resignation.

In a time of unprecedented stress in schools, school social workers must see themselves not only as student advocates but also as strategic allies to teachers, according to a new article in the NASW Section Connection for School Social Work.

Teacher burnout disproportionately affects teachers in high-needs schools. The persistent high stress levels, reported by 75 percent of teachers in a 2022 survey, lead to negative outcomes for students and the school climate.

The article is written by Aaron M. Thompson, PhD, MEd, MSW; and Tanya Weigand, PhD, LCSW. They note school social workers, with their expertise in systems theory and trauma-informed care, are uniquely positioned to support teacher well-being, which is crucial as educator wellness is deeply intertwined with student achievement. The article highlights several evidence-based interventions that social workers can implement or advocate for. The Classroom Check-Up (CCU), a motivational interviewing-based coaching model, has been shown to improve classroom climate, reduce student disruptions, and increase teacher self-efficacy and job satisfaction, which are protective factors against burnout.

Additionally, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs for educators significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Teacher Wellness and Resilience Programs, rooted in positive psychology, focus on gratitude and emotion regulation to reduce emotional exhaustion. Structured peer coaching and reflective supervision groups also are effective in reducing professional isolation. Finally, implementing trauma-informed schoolwide practices recognizes secondary traumatic stress among educators
and provides them with tools for self-regulation and coping, such as the trauma-informed adaptation of the CCU.