The more you dare, the worse you fare. Sadly, the better you are in Title I teaching, the more likely you are to burn out and crash. Surprisingly, the most dangerous kinds of stress that trigger burnout aren't bigger. Micro-stressors are your real enemy. The most creative, high-performing professionals in every field - including education - report that chronic, small, incessant stressors seem to be what take us down. Join seven time ESEA speaker, Dr. Linda for 1) A review of the current research on how micro-stressors and indeed the resulting inflammation and elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels impact teachers’ brains; 2) A personalized 10-item assessment to measure current micro-stress levels; and 3) A toolbox of strategies to restore balance and wellness. In the midst of the largest teacher shortage in the past century, we must provide real answers for teachers who are struggling in the profession or considering an exit because micro-stressors are stealing passion and possibility.
Dr. Linda Karges-Bone is a "Teachers' Teacher" who brings research and practice together with anecdotes from 36 years in the field. Her vision for Title I sites is that all children have access to passionate, creative teachers who not only understand the neuro-biology of students’ brains, but their own capacities for both IQ and EQ. Through university affiliation, extensive television, radio, and now social media platforms, Dr. Bone mixes a unique cocktail of research, practical strategies, real-world Title I stories, and unfailing humor. Her books, blogs, and workshops give teachers information and assurance, fueling their brains with new ideas and fresh excitement about the work. In one of her most popular articles, Dr. Bone notes that “teachers do brain surgery from the inside out.” But to operate (figuratively) at that level, one must maintain a meta-cognitive state. The constant assault of micro-stressors impedes teachers' work and damages their own brains and bodies in the effort. Helping teachers save their brains and restore their passion is her goal for ESEA 2024 in Portland.