A Love Song for Teachers: A Guide to Enhance Teacher Wellbeing and Self-Efficacy through Strategies for Stress Reduction within School Systems

Author

David Eugene LyonsFollow

Date Approved

4-14-2025

Graduate Degree Type

Project

Degree Name

Social Innovation (M.A.)

Degree Program

College of Education

First Advisor

Dr. Azfar Hussain

Academic Year

2024/2025

Abstract

Over the last decade, more and more teachers are leaving the profession, even mid-career [National Education Association (2022), National Center for Education Statistics (2022), Schools that Lead (2024)]. They attribute this to demoralization and emotional exhaustion. Across the nation, as more and more school systems add more top-down regulations, teachers feel they have lost their autonomy and their creativity. While research has focused individually on the effects of emotional labor, on social-emotional intelligence and relationship management of teachers, and on teacher wellbeing and self-efficacy, there is a gap in the research of how these three elements interrelate. The confluence of these concepts leads to stronger communication between and among the administration and teachers and to the greater purposes of the Professional Learning Community. In turn, the teachers generate resilience.

Comments

Along with the project / thesis, I am including a zine, a collection of self-written poems that respond to the research.

ScholarWorks Citation

Lyons, David Eugene, "A Love Song for Teachers: A Guide to Enhance Teacher Wellbeing and Self-Efficacy through Strategies for Stress Reduction within School Systems" (2025). Culminating Experience Projects. 572.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/572