Special Educators are at an increased risk for burnout. Some areas that have been shown to be correlated with leaving the field are related to problems correlated to colleague support and collaboration with colleagues, lack of clarity over who is responsible for playing which role(s) for your students, and general stress and climate. School climate and support from and collaboration with administrators can also be problem areas. As such, crafting Professional Practice Goals which encourage work in these areas may help Special Educators to feel happier and more competent in their roles.
In the following section, you will find:
· A quiz which you can use to find out which of these risk factors are most relevant to you
· A list of Professional Practice Indicators which might be especially relevant to each burnout risk factor
· Sample professional practice goals which are associated with problem areas such as collaboration and role problems, as well as tips to incorporate practices into the 'how' of goals related to your evaluation which might combat the burnout risk factors.
Take this quiz to determine which risk factors of burnout are most relevant to you and your practice.
Your top result may be the best place to focus, especially if you feel that burnout is something you are concerned about.
Once you take the quiz, the menu below suggests other material on this site to look into (online resources, books, and other tips) as well as professional practice indicators related to the burnout risk factors.
Scroll to the bottom to see sample professional practice goals associated with each risk factor, as well as a guide for incorporating protective features into your goals.
Check out our pages on meetings and contacts, as well as our literature resources. Consider crafting a goal (perhaps a team goal) which addresses or includes:
IV-E. Shared Responsibility- Within and beyond the classroom, consistently reinforces schoolwide behavior and learning expectations for all students, and contributes to their learning by sharing responsibility for meeting their needs
IV-C. Collaboration- Consistently and effectively collaborates with colleagues on a wide range of tasks such as implementing standards-based units and well-structured lessons, examining student work, analyzing student performance, and planning appropriate interventions.
IV-B. Professional Growth- Consistently seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instructional and leadership responsibilities
Our page on collaborating with General Educators, as well as our digital and literature resources, may be helpful. In addition, consider drafting a goal which addresses or includes:
IV-E. Shared Responsibility- Within and beyond the classroom, consistently reinforces schoolwide behavior and learning expectations for all students, and contributes to their learning by sharing responsibility for meeting their needs
IV-C. Collaboration- Consistently and effectively collaborates with colleagues on a wide range of tasks such as implementing standards-based units and well-structured lessons, examining student work, analyzing student performance, and planning appropriate interventions.
IV-B. Professional Growth- Consistently seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instructional and leadership responsibilities
Look at our page on collaborating with paraprofessionals, as well as our digital and literature resources. In addition, consider drafting a goal which addresses or includes:
IV-E. Shared Responsibility- Within and beyond the classroom, consistently reinforces schoolwide behavior and learning expectations for all students, and contributes to their learning by sharing responsibility for meeting their needs
IV-C. Collaboration- Consistently and effectively collaborates with colleagues on a wide range of tasks such as implementing standards-based units and well-structured lessons, examining student work, analyzing student performance, and planning appropriate interventions.
Check out our pages on burnout, as well as our literature and online resources. Consider crafting a goal (perhaps a team goal) which addresses or includes:
IV-E. Shared Responsibility- Within and beyond the classroom, consistently reinforces schoolwide behavior and learning expectations for all students, and contributes to their learning by sharing responsibility for meeting their needs
IV-C. Collaboration-Consistently and effectively collaborates with colleagues on a wide range of tasks such as implementing standards-based units and well-structured lessons, examining student work, analyzing student performance, and planning appropriate interventions
IV-B. Professional Growth- Consistently seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instructional and leadership responsibilities
III-C. Communication -Regularly communicates withfamilies about student learning and performance, and invites and responds promptly to communications from families while demonstrating understanding of and respect for different home languages, cultures, and values.
III-B-1. Collaboration- Consistently provides families with clear, user-friendly expectations for student learning and behavior.
Take some time to look at our pages on burnout, including the resource pages, as well as our general literature and online resources. Consider crafting a goal (perhaps a team goal) which addresses or includes:
IV-B. Professional Growth- Consistently seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instructional and leadership responsibilities
IV-D. Decision-Making - Becomes involved in schoolwide decision making, and takes an active role in school improvement planning
Look into our pages on burnout, including the resource pages, as well as our general literature and online resources. Consider crafting a goal (perhaps a team goal) which addresses or includes:
IV-D. Decision-Making - Becomes involved in schoolwide decision making, and takes an active role in school improvement planning
IV-E. Shared Responsibility- Within and beyond the classroom, consistently reinforces schoolwide behavior and learning expectations for all students, and contributes to their learning by sharing responsibility for meeting their needs
III-C. Communication -Regularly communicates with families about student learning and performance, and invites and responds promptly to communications from families while demonstrating understanding of and respect for different home languages, cultures, and values.
III-B-1. Collaboration- Consistently provides families with clear, user-friendly expectations for student learning and behavior.
III-A. Engagement- Uses a variety of culturally responsive practices and communication strategies to support every family to participate actively and appropriately in the classroom and/or school community.
III-C. Communication -Regularly communicates withfamilies about student learning and performance, and invites and responds promptly to communications from families while demonstrating understanding of and respect for different home languages, cultures, and values.
III-B-2. Collaboration - Regularly updates families on curriculum throughout the year and suggests strategies for supporting learning at school and home, including appropriate adaptation for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency.
III-B-1. Collaboration- Consistently provides families with clear, user-friendly expectations for student learning and behavior.
III-A. Engagement- Uses a variety of culturally responsive practices and communication strategies to support every family to participate actively and appropriately in the classroom and/or school community.
IV-D. Decision-Making - Becomes involved in schoolwide decision making, and takes an active rolein school improvement planning
IV-E. Shared Responsibility- Within and beyond the classroom, consistently reinforces schoolwide behavior and learning expectations for all students, and contributes to their learning by sharing responsibility for meeting their needs
IV-C. Collaboration-Consistently and effectively collaborates with colleagues on a wide range of tasks such as implementing standards-based units and well-structured lessons, examining student work, analyzing student performance, and planning appropriate interventions.
IV-B. Professional Growth- Consistently seeks out and applies, when appropriate, ideas for improving practice from supervisors, colleagues, professional development activities, and other resources to gain expertise and/or assume different instructional and leadership responsibilities
III-C. Communication -Regularly communicates with families about student learning and performance, and invites and responds promptly to communications from families while demonstrating understanding of and respect for different home languages, cultures, and values.