Dr. Tish Jennings, University of Virginia

Zoom Link:  https://buffalo.zoom.us/j/97745207438?pwd=UmVBeUNZdjBmZ25jZWRuR3BIdnlWZz09

Our education systems are archaic and our school personnel and students are paying the price. These systems were built during the industrial revolution when standardization and linear processes were the latest innovation to scaling production. The “factory model” of education worked for a time when basic knowledge was all our children needed to learn. Today it’s clear that learning skills for the 21^st century requires a different approach. Educator burnout was on the rise before COVID-19, and now it has reached crisis proportions with growing staff shortages across the US. To address educator burnout, we need to transform our education system from one that dictates from above to one that empowers educators to support students in learning that is relevant to their interests and needs. Dr. Jennings describes the matrix of stressors embedded in our current system and how they impact educators’ ability to perform their jobs. She presents action steps that educators and school leaders can take to support our own well-being and change the way we think about school, our roles, and our students’ learning that will bring our schools into the 21^st century.