Continuing our discussion on the challenge of teacher retention (here, here, and here), this week we’ll take a look at five foundational strategies to help avoid teacher burnout. While simple and direct, these are often the most overlooked tools in our administrative toolbox.

And with all due respect, these key attitudes are something state legislators across the country should seriously contemplate, too. Teachers often provide the necessary foundation for any meaningful, long-term systemic change … but when they are stressed to the point of burnout, no plan (no matter how brilliant) can ever be effectively implemented. Educational mandates (both from within and without) that ignore this reality rarely succeed.