Education Week - October 12, 2022 - 3

What's a Big Factor in Stress
Of Teachers? Principals
New school year. New faces. New ways of doing things. And that
old anchor continuing to weigh down many teachers: stress.
A new international study that measured teacher stress and burnout
across 20 countries finds that teachers are mostly on par with
people in other professions in dealing with stress since the pandemic,
contrary to some media reports. Still, teaching is stressful.
Bosses, for one, can be a contributing factor in teachers' stress levels.
The researchers, led by Andrea Westphal of the University of
Greifswald in Germany, found that principals' leadership and management
approaches significantly affected educators' ability to deal
with changes and challenges in the classroom.
" There is some indication that when school principals contribute to
a supportive school climate and avoid demanding practices, teachers
experience less stress and burnout, " the researchers said.
Teachers whose leaders ramped up pressure and tried to control
teachers' behaviors more during the pandemic had significantly
higher levels of " emotional exhaustion. "
The study found the most effective interventions combine stressmanagement
support with training, such as in technology use.
Danna Thomas, the founder of Happy Teacher Revolution, which
works with schools to improve teacher support, said while it's important
to incorporate direct supports for teacher well-being into
day-to-day work, " principals need to be self-aware when it comes to
communication with their staff about burnout and self-care. "
She often sees leaders mistakenly " sending staffwide emails saying,
'Make sure you take care of yourself and read this article on
self-care-oh, and here are all the things that are due by close of
business.' "
" That kind of mixed messaging leads to even more animosity and
angst, not only toward the leadership but also toward self-care and
well-being itself, " Thomas said.
Loan-Forgiveness Deadline
Looms for School Workers
Boo!
Halloween is baying at the door, and when it's over, something scary
will have happened. A waiver that makes it easier for public employees-
including teachers-to apply for student-debt forgiveness expires, and
advocates fear many eligible borrowers may be unaware they qualify.
It's not just the employees who can profit. Being freed of a large debt
could be a significant recruitment and retention tool for districts, said
Tara Thomas, a policy analyst at AASA, the School Superintendents
Association.
The waiver applies to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness
program, which is designed to forgive qualifying debt for borrowers
after 10 years of repayment if they were employed at public institutions
and some nonprofit organizations.
In a separate action, President Joe Biden has promised to forgive up to
$20,000 of eligible student-loan debt for all Americans with incomes
under $125,000.
Some advocacy groups and district leaders have pressed the Biden
administration to extend the waiver deadline.
" Staff members will show up to their schools on November 1 with the
same passion, work ethic, and empathy they had on October 31, and
their financial circumstances will be the same as well, " Chicago school
district CEO Pedro Martinez wrote in a Sept. 7 letter to Biden.
Fewer than 2 percent of public-service workers in Illinois had their
debt forgiven at the time of Martinez's letter, he said, adding that many
employees might not realize they are eligible.
Educational administrators can play a big role in ensuring their employees
are aware that the waiver exists and tools are available to help them.
Chicago, for example, does weekly outreach to employees about the
waiver, Martinez said in his letter. The AASA created a template that
superintendents can use to inform their employees.
And since districts will be involved in signing off on applications as
part of the verification process, administrators should ensure that it is
speedy and accessible for employees, Thomas said.
EDUCATION WEEK | October 12, 2022 | www.edweek.org | 3
VIDEO
Overdoses at School:
One School District's
Response to the
Fentanyl Crisis
A surge in fentanyl overdoses is
affecting students. LAUSD's Alberto
Carvalho offers advice for educators
on the frontlines.
edw.link/FentanylCrisis
Vol. 42 * Issue 9 * October 12, 2022
4 Immigrant Students Are Under Pressure.
Four Ways Districts Can Support Them
4 Don't Use State Tests 'Punitively,' Ed.
Secretary Cardona Warns
6 School Sports Participation Drops, Raising
Concern About 'Physical Learning Loss'
8 'Swatting' Hoaxes Disrupt Schools Across
The Country. What Educators Need to Know
10 A School Librarian Pushes Back
On Censorship And Gets Death Threats
And Online Harassment
12 What Do Teachers Want From Learning
Management Systems? We Asked
14 Election Guide 2022:
K-12 Issues & Candidates
Shaping the Midterms
17 Divisions on Race, Gender Intensify A Fight
For State Superintendent
18 The School Year Is Getting Hotter.
How Does Heat Affect Student Learning
And Well-Being?
OPINION
20 How Schools Can Help Refugee Students
21 Federal Stimulus Dollars Can Help Ease The
Teacher Shortage
24 3 Shifts That Benefit New Ed. Leaders
DEPARTMENTS
2 Briefly Stated
5 What the Research Says
22 Letters to the Editor
23 EdWeek Top School Jobs
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Education Week - October 12, 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Education Week - October 12, 2022