As we concluded the 2024-25 school year, I attended Mr. Rosenberg’s workshop titled Avoiding Teacher Burnout. While some end of year meetings feel tedious, Mr. Rosenberg’s workshop was far from that; it was an opportunity to decompress and share ideas of how to not get bogged down in our work.

 

I specifically liked the short film presented in the workshop that depicted the difference between a school employee that can balance and manage their work stress, and another that was consumed by it. I felt that it was a good reminder of what I can portray to others; students and other staff alike. Even though it was a fictional skit, I believe it necessary to see how we would look if we were to act upon stressors and annoyances. The film definitely reminded me to take a good look at myself, and it was a reminder of why I chose to dip my feet into this field.  

 

The supplementary portion of this workshop allowed us to discuss with colleagues what strategies or activities we participate in to avoid letting stress get the best of us. It was relieving to hear that my colleagues with much more experience would feel similar to me at times. I genuinely enjoyed the discussions since I got to know teachers and administrators a bit more; I enjoyed how we all lowered our guard and were vulnerable enough to share personal details with each other.  

 

I feel like stress is a topic that school employees are quick to sweep under the rug, but it is the act of ignoring it that makes it even worse. Mr. Rosenberg created an environment where it was acceptable to be honest with one another, and it was amazing to see colleagues empathize with each other’s experiences. I definitely learned a lot from other staff members, and I learned that we all coincide when it comes to dealing with stress. This workshop was a step towards eliminating the taboo of speaking about stress. We are human.

 

We feel all sorts of emotions, and we have to navigate through work and our personal lives dealing with all of them. This was a training that transcended the scope of our professions; I was able to learn things that apply to all aspects of my life.  

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- David Aguirre

(Special Education Tutor)