Episode 17 Burnout Prevention and Resilience with Alynthia Penn

Join Dr. Penn as she discusses issues of burnout and how to prevent it with Alynthia Penn. Christian teachers, whether in public or private schools, are not immune to burnout. Over 40% of early educators and K-12 teachers in the United States report often or always feeling burned out. 90% of teachers consider burnout a serious problem. Almost half of early childhood educators are experiencing high levels of burnout and stress, according to a nationwide survey of 2,300 educators. The survey, published by early childhood education resource provider Teaching Strategies, shows 45% of early child educators are battling mental health challenges and burnout. Twenty percent of early childhood educators said they are considering leaving the profession. Of that group, 40% cited mental health as their reason, and 43% said compensation is driving their decision — though only 8% of early childhood educators say they’re planning to leave in the next year.

Alynthia served during 3 major hurricanes in the Eastern Caribbean with Peace Corps Response as a Literacy Support Specialist, Indonesia as a K-12 technology instructor during a Tsunami, and as an instructor in Memphis during Hurricane Katrina. She served in Alaska during the pandemic and lost everything in the Maui wildfires. She is a certified instructor with a masters in therapy and shared biblical burnout prevention strategies that promote resilience. She shared examples from the life of David and strategies such as music and dance theraphy, journaling, prayer and worship, and so much more. You can follow her or donate to the Live.Move.Be. teacher burnout prevention therapy program at https://archive.storycorps.org/user/alynthia-montrelle/