Dear Teachers: You're the solution!

Let’s be honest - teaching isn’t just a job!

Teachers play one of the most important roles in our society. Teachers are the people shaping the minds, values and futures of our children. Teachers are laying the foundations for tomorrow’s doctors, engineers, artists, leaders - and yet, they’re walking away from the profession in huge numbers!

Something’s gone very wrong...

Across the UK, the US and Canada, teachers are burning out. Not just tired - burnt out! The kind of stress that keeps you up at night, that follows you home every evening, that turns passion into resentment. Teaching has always been demanding, but now it feels unsustainable. The hours are long, the expectations are sky high and the support? Barely there.

It’s not just about marking tests or lesson planning anymore. Teachers are expected to be behaviour specialists, emotional support workers, admin assistants, social workers, safeguarding leads...you name it. And while they’re juggling all that, they’re still trying to deliver lessons, meet targets and make sure every child feels seen and supported. It’s no wonder so many are thinking, I can’t do this anymore.

And when things get tough, where’s the backup? In so many schools, teachers are left to figure it out on their own. New teachers are thrown into the deep end without proper mentoring. Experienced teachers get more and more piled on their plates. Leadership can be hit or miss, and even when school communities want to help, there’s just not enough funding or time. Teachers feel like they’re constantly drowning and no one’s throwing a lifeline.

But maybe the most painful part? A lot of teachers feel like they’re no longer respected. Like their work doesn’t matter. There’s so much negativity in the media about schools and education. Politicians argue over standards and outcomes while the people actually doing the work are left out of the conversation. It’s like we’ve forgotten that teachers aren’t the problem...they’re the solution!

We can’t keep asking teachers to pour themselves out day after day while giving them nothing in return. It’s not sustainable and it’s not fair. And here’s the thing: this isn’t just a “teacher problem.” It’s everyone’s problem. Because when teachers leave, kids lose. And our future depends on our children getting the kind of education they need from people who are inspired, empowered and supported to do their best work.

So what can we do?

We can start by treating teachers like the professionals they are. Pay them properly. Cut the pointless admin. Give them time to rest and recharge. Trust their judgment. Celebrate their wins. And stop expecting them to fix everything in society without the tools, time or support to do it.

If we want a strong, thriving future, we need to look after the people who are building it - one classroom at a time.