Job Satisfaction

Education news, analysis, and opinion about how teachers and staff feel about their jobs, including issues related to burnout and stress

Exclusive Report

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The State of Teaching, 2026 Edition
New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
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Thu., July 09, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. ET
Teaching Profession K-12 Essentials Forum Supporting the New K-12 Workforce: What Teachers Need to Stay at School
 Join this free virtual event to discover what teachers say they need to feel supported to stay in classrooms for the long haul.
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July 9, 2026
New Teacher Support Coaches engross in a discussion during New Teacher Support Coaches Professional Learning session on November 7, 2025 at Center for Professional Development in Fresno. California.
Participants in a New Teacher Support Coaches session discuss common classroom challenges, and strategies in a session held in Fresno. Calif., on Nov. 7.
Andri Tambunan for Education Week
Teaching Profession From Our Research Center How Has Teacher Morale Changed Over Time?
The EdWeek Research Center's Teacher Morale Index, offers a year-over-year gauge of educator job satisfaction.
Sterling C. Lloyd, June 24, 2026
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1 min read
As districts nationwide experiment with strategic staffing—an attempt to use teachers’ time in different ways to free up collaboration and reduce class size. Strategic staffing—in which schools give schedule flexibility and sometimes differentiated pay for teams of classroom educators—has gained ground in many states as a way to provide more professional development for young teachers and retain educators longer. PICTURED, Students at Whittier Elementary School work in groups and independently, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022 in Mesa, Ariz.
Strategic staffing—in which schools give schedule flexibility and sometimes differentiated pay for teams of classroom educators—has gained ground in many states as a way to provide more professional development for young teachers and retain educators longer. Students and teachers at Whittier Elementary School in Mesa, Ariz., work in groups and independently, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022.
Matt York/AP
Teaching Profession How These Schools Use Teams to Cut Teacher Workloads
California teachers in the co-teaching pilot are reporting higher morale.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 17, 2026
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4 min read
conceptual illustration of A figure juggling tasks while riding a unicycle
Rudzhan Nagiev/iStock/Getty
Recruitment & Retention Why Teachers Say They Leave the Profession—Or Say They Want to Quit
Here are some of the reasons listed in response to EdWeek questions on social media.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens & Marina Whiteleather, June 17, 2026
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1 min read
Teachers follow each other in a circle during a workshop helping teachers find a balance in their curriculum while coping with stress and burnout in the classroom, on Aug. 2, 2022, in Concord, N.H. School districts around the country are starting to invest in programs aimed at address the mental health of teachers. Faced with a shortage of educators and widespread discontentment with the job, districts are hiring more therapist, holding trainings on self-care and setting up system to better respond to a teacher encountering anxiety and stress.
Teachers follow each other in a circle during a workshop helping teachers cope with stress and burnout in the classroom, on Aug. 2, 2022, in Concord, N.H. New data show that teachers continue to face high levels of stress, but many plan to stay in the profession long term.
Charles Krupa/AP
Teaching Profession More Teachers Name Classroom Management as a Job Stress Than Low Pay
A national survey highlights ongoing work and home pressures on educators.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 10, 2026
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3 min read
Thu., May 14, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET
Teaching Profession Webinar Effective Strategies to Lift and Sustain Teacher Morale: Lessons from Texas
Learn about the state of teacher morale in Texas and strategies that could lift educators' satisfaction there and around the country.
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May 14, 2026
Attendees and panelists partake in breakout sessions during the State of Teaching event in San Francisco in March 2026.
Attendees and panelists partake in breakout sessions during the State of Teaching event in San Francisco in March 2026.
Andrew Reed/EdSource
Teaching Profession Download 5 Strategies for Supporting K-12 Teachers: Lessons From California
This resource discusses the main takeaways from a March 2026 live event hosted by Education Week and EdSource.
April 23, 2026
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1 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Recruitment & Retention Whitepaper Expert Guide | 5 Strategies to Reduce Paraeducator Turnover
Download this guide to explore five practical strategies to improve onboarding, communication, and staff support.
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Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Teaching Profession Here's Why Teachers Say They Haven't Quit
Beyond a love of teaching, teachers have practical reasons to stick to their jobs.
Olina Banerji, April 15, 2026
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1 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
School & District Management Opinion ‘This Isn’t Working’: Educators Share Unsolicited Advice for District Leaders
How can superintendents improve student outcomes—without micromanaging teachers?
Larry Ferlazzo, March 31, 2026
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8 min read
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A sign reminds students about classroom norms at an elementary school on Aug. 15, 2025 in Bowie, Md. Many teachers in a recent Education Week survey said student behavior was a top problem—and affected their morale.
Pete Kiehart for Education Week
Teaching Profession Teachers Say Student Behavior Has Made the Job (Almost) Impossible
Teachers say their morale is affected when student misbehavior is on the rise.
Olina Banerji, March 24, 2026
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3 min read
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From left, Alicia Simba, a transitional kindergarten teacher; Eric Lewis, a science teacher; Vito Chiala, a principal; Chris Hoffman, a school superintendent; and moderator Diana Lambert of EdSource appear on a panel during the State of Teaching discussion in San Francisco on March 19, 2026. The administrators and classroom educators spoke of what it takes to boost teacher morale.
Andrew Reed/EdSource
Teaching Profession 'Treated as a Professional': How District and School Leaders Can Boost Teacher Morale
California educators talked about the support they need at an event hosted by Education Week and EdSource.
Ileana Najarro, March 20, 2026
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5 min read
Allyson Maldonado, a New Teacher Support Coach, brainstorms during New Teacher Support Coaches Professional Learning session on November 7, 2025 at Center for Professional Development in Fresno. California.
Allyson Maldonado, a New Teacher Support Coach, brainstorms during New Teacher Support Coaches Professional Learning session on November 7, 2025 at Center for Professional Development in Fresno. California.
Andri Tambunan for Education Week
Teaching Profession Data From 50 States: Teachers on Class Sizes, Improving Morale, and How Salaries Stack Up
Teachers across the states report that they make a significant amount beyond what they earn teaching.
Holly Kurtz & Stephen Sawchuk, March 13, 2026
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1 min read
A look at the state of teaching in Fresno, Calif.
A look at the state of teaching in Fresno, Calif.
Andri Tambunan for Education Week
Teaching Profession Data From 50 States: Teachers' Views of How the Profession Is Seen—And Their Own Career Plans
Most believe the public views teaching negatively, and many say they plan to work in other fields.
Holly Kurtz & Stephen Sawchuk, March 13, 2026
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1 min read