January 21, 2025

School Leaders, It’s Time for a Well-Being Self-Assessment

2 min read

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If your perfectly-staying as an schooling chief is in disaster, you’re not alone. Administrator attrition at present rivals teacher attrition across the state. In her new write-up for The ASCD Website, Elizabeth Dampf shares procedures for examining regardless of whether and how to mend the damage to your psychological and emotional health.

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Supply hyperlink It is no secret that the demands of school leaders have become increasingly complex and taxing. Unprecedented challenges, coupled with the demands of a 24-hour news cycle, can leave school leaders feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable to burnout. It is just as important for school leaders to take care of their own well-being, as it is for them to look out for the welfare of their students and staff. To this end, it is our view that school leaders need to do a periodic well-being self-assessment.

This is not an assessment that needs to be laborious or time-consuming. Its purpose is to give school leaders a chance to step back from the demands placed upon them, and to have a moment to gauge how well they are coping with their existing workload. A self-assessment should begin with simple questions about whether the leader is feeling challenged, stressed and undervalued. Leaders should also examine their physical and mental health, their outlook on their role, and the trends in their daily tasks and challenges.

Once school leaders have completed the self-assessment, they can take the necessary steps to ensure that their well-being remains in balance. There are many proven strategies they can deploy to reduce stress, such as engaging in physical activity, taking a break every day, and most importantly, seeking support from trusted colleagues.

It is our view that doing a well-being self-assessment should be viewed as a priority. School leaders must look out for their own well-being if they are to remain effective in their roles. We urge school leaders to take a proactive approach to their own well-being, and to develop a plan of action to reach their optimum levels of wellbeing.