Teacher Burnout in 2026: Why It’s Rising and What Educators Can Do Next
- Sean G. McCormick
- Mar 10
- 11 min read
Teaching burnout is what happens when a job keeps asking for more while giving teachers less support, autonomy, and breathing room.
In this post, you’ll see what the data says about teacher burnout, why so many educators are reaching their limit, the warning signs to watch for, and what teachers can do if they want a more sustainable path forward.👇
Table of Contents:
Are you a teacher?
If so, the profession today may look different than what you imagined when you first stepped into your education program.
The expectations are higher.
The workload is heavier.
Many teachers are working within scripted curricula, managing larger class sizes, and supporting students with complex academic and emotional needs.
It is no surprise that teacher burnout has become part of the national conversation.
Recent data show that 16% of teachers considered leaving their jobs in 2025.
Nearly half of K–12 educators report feeling burned out very often or always. These are not fringe numbers.
Burnout in 2026 is not a personal weakness. It is a predictable response to sustained pressure.
And for many educators, that pressure has been building for years.
Teacher Burnout Statistics: What the Numbers are Telling Us in 2026
When teachers first enter the profession, they have ambitious dreams and high hopes for the future.
The very idea of becoming a teacher feels good.
Here is that golden opportunity to do something amazing for kids.
It’s the opportunity to look at the world and know that you are creating a positive impact on the kids who move through your classroom.
But for many teachers, what we dreamed of and what is happening in reality are parallel opposites.
The work is hard.
The children are challenging.
Decades ago, the whole idea of teacher burnout was foreign.
Today? Burned-out teachers are becoming the norm.
Consider these statistics.
In K–12 schools, 44% of teachers say they feel burned out very often or all the time. Among college and university faculty, that number is still pretty high at 35%.
Teachers report lower work-life balance than other working adults in comparable professions.
Nationwide, 86% of school districts have unfilled roles, and 57% of schools in high-poverty communities are operating without enough staff.
The share of teachers who intended to leave fell to 16% in 2025, down from 22% in 2024.
If you are like most people, you probably think that sounds hopeful.
But when nearly one in six educators is still thinking about quitting, the reality is that the strain on schools and students remains high.
What picture are these statistics trying to paint?
They’re telling us that our teachers are suffering.
The jobs have become too demanding, and the result?
Teachers are leaving the field, resulting in more job openings than there are people who want to do the job.
What is Teacher Burnout?
But just what is teacher burnout?
Why is burnout affecting our teachers in such an alarming way?
The thing is that we all experience work-related stress, whether we’re a teacher or not.
Stress is normal.
But burnout? That’s different.
Burnout can occur when stress does not abate.
It builds over months or years.
The workload stays heavy. The pressure stays high. Your energy runs low and never fully returns.
In simple terms, teacher burnout often looks like:
Being completely and wholly emotionally drained
A feeling of detachment (like you don’t care) from students or coworkers
A reduced sense of impact
You start to wonder if your work even matters.
Psychologist Herbert Freudenberger introduced the term “burnout” back in the 1970s.
He noticed that people in helping professions were especially at risk.
These were caring individuals.
People who gave more than they received.
Teachers fit that pattern.
And the pressure in 2026 feels different from what it did before the pandemic.
In 2025, researchers at the University of Missouri surveyed about 500 public school teachers.
A sizeable majority of those surveyed, to the tune of 78%, said they had considered quitting since the pandemic.
They cited limited administrative support, heavy workloads, low pay, and difficult student behavior.
It is no surprise that teacher burnout continues to rise.
What’s Causing Teacher Burnout in 2026?
We touched on this a bit in the previous section, but let’s dig a bit deeper into what is causing teacher burnout now, when it wasn’t such a big issue before the pandemic, and especially not 10 or even 20 years ago.
1. Expanding Responsibilities
Teachers are doing more than teaching.
There is paperwork.
Keep track of test scores and attendance.
Meetings before and after school can get in the way of your time with your family, and let’s face it, you also deserve time to recuperate before facing another day.
The way teacher contracts and salaries are built often means these extra activities come with little to no extra pay.
Don’t believe it’s true?
Consider that teachers work an estimated 53 hours a week.
That is seven more hours than the average working adult.
Those extra duties are rarely paid.
It is no surprise that many educators feel like they are working two jobs, not just one.
2. Behavioral Changes and Emotional Load
Classrooms look different now.
Teachers today are expected to manage emotions, not just academics.
Parents are more involved than ever.
Expectations are high on all sides.
A Pew Research study conducted in 2024 suggests that 80% of teachers said they address student behavioral issues at least a few times a week.
And if that’s not bad enough, 58% of teachers say it happens every day.
Think about that.
Every single day.
That means daily problem-solving, de-escalation, and emotional support layered on top of instruction.
That constant emotional output adds up.
And over time, it takes a real toll.
3. Lack of Autonomy
Scripted teaching curricula are becoming more common across districts.
Some programs that teachers are expected to deliver now require them to read from a script, follow specific pacing guidelines, and use preset activities.
This leaves little room for the creativity and learned experiences that teachers can bring to the table.
On top of that, educators are required to administer rounds of standardized testing throughout the year.
Many teachers believe these exams miss the full picture.
They often fail to really show us if kids understand the content.
4. Staffing Shortages
Earlier, we noted that 86% of districts report open roles.
The national average student-to-teacher ratio was 15 to 1 in 2025.
That is just an average.
In some districts, teachers report having 29 or more students in a single classroom.
In other cases, that number climbs to 33, 38, or even 40.
At that level, it becomes nearly impossible to:
meet individual learning needs
provide meaningful feedback
offer the one-on-one support many students require
Early Signs of Teacher Burnout
With the challenges we cited, it’s no wonder that the teacher burnout statistics are as high as they are.
But this begs the question:
What are the teacher burnout symptoms?
And, what are the signs of teacher burnout that administrators (and teachers themselves) need to be on the lookout for?
The early indicators of teacher burnout aren’t all that surprising.
You feel tired all the time, and even weekends or breaks no longer help you recharge.
You begin to detach mentally from your work and feel less connected to your students.
Your performance starts to slip, and tasks that once felt manageable now take more effort.
Your relationships at work become strained, and you notice less patience with colleagues or staff.
You experience physical and emotional symptoms such as poor sleep, headaches, stomach aches, or even signs of depression.
Why Are So Many Teachers Leaving the Field?
All industries experience turnover. That is normal.
What is less common is leaving an entire profession after years of education and service.
Teaching requires a serious, deep commitment that takes place long before a student steps into their own classroom.
Most teachers spend at least four years earning a degree.
Many go on to complete a master’s program to increase their earning potential and deepen their knowledge.
Then comes tenure, which often takes three or four years in the same district.
Tenure is meant to bring stability and reflect dedication to students and the school community.
Walking away from that investment is not impulsive.
Most teachers wrestle with the decision for years.
They hope conditions will improve.
Too often, they do not.
Safety has also become a growing concern.
Active shooter drills are now part of the school routine.
Students, educators, and staff have reported distress and even lasting trauma linked to these exercises.
For many teachers, the emotional toll of preparing for violence inside a classroom feels overwhelming.
Research shows that nearly 70% of teachers say that these active shooter drills makes them feel neither safer nor less safe.
Another 12% report feeling less safe afterward.
And quite frankly?
Active shooter drills are not something teachers signed up for when they felt called to serve.
So why do teachers leave?
Because the workload is no longer worth the lack of compensation or respect that they tend to receive.
Being a teacher today is stressful, and that ongoing stress and burnout usually outweigh the sense of purpose that once sustained them.
Growing classroom sizes make it harder to give students the attention they deserve. This means added pressure and strain on teachers.
Today’s teachers deserve and crave flexibility, autonomy, safety, and a career path that feels sustainable long term.
How to Avoid Teacher Burnout
Many teachers feel stressed, frustrated, and disappointed.
This is a profession they once loved.
Many still want to love it.
Yet the daily pressure can wear down even the most dedicated educator.
Consider that 78% of teachers report symptoms tied to poor mental health.
What is that telling us?
It’s not good, and that’s not a small number.
If you want to reduce the risk of becoming a burned-out teacher, start here:
Pay attention to your emotions and notice when stress becomes constant rather than occasional.
Take ownership of your wellbeing through rest, boundaries, and realistic expectations.
Be cautious not to jump into extra work thrown your way. It’s okay to question if the extra work is making an impact or if it’s just busy work.
Say no when your plate is already full. You’re human, and as a human, you can only do so much.
Consider whether remaining in your current role is worthwhile and aligns with your long-term goals.
When Burnout is a Sign that It’s Time to Make a Career Pivot
No one enters the teaching profession with an exit strategy already in place.
But if you’re in the thick of it and you’re feeling all of these things we’ve shared (or even some of them), is developing an exit plan really a bad idea?
We don’t think so.
Understand that if you are burnt out, it doesn’t mean you have failed, especially not in today’s educational climate.
The reality is that the educational system (and sometimes, the students within) is no longer aligned with what your career was designed for.
So, if you have tried setting boundaries, reducing commitments, and protecting your mental health but still feel stuck, it may be time to consider a pivot.
You feel relief, not guilt, when you imagine leaving the classroom.
You no longer see a realistic path to feeling energized in your current role.
You are curious about other careers and find yourself researching options late at night.
Taking a Different Path: Becoming an Executive Function Coach
To be clear, you don’t need to ask permission to make a change.
And no one should suffer in a career that no longer brings them passion or joy, especially when there are other great opportunities out there.
Becoming an executive function coach is one path many transitioning teachers are beginning to consider.
And it makes sense.
You already teach planning, organization, time management, and follow-through every single day.
Click here to view our EFCA graduate case studies of former teachers who escaped burnout and now run thriving EF coaching businesses.
As an executive function coach, you work one-on-one with students or adults, often those with ADHD or other neurodiverse profiles.
You help them build skills like:
task initiation
goal setting
emotional regulation
accountability
Sessions are focused and personal.
Instead of managing a classroom of 25, you guide individuals toward practical systems that help them succeed in school, work, and life.
Of course, coaching is not the only option.
Many educators also explore remote roles, consulting, tutoring, or other flexible paths after leaving the classroom.
If you are weighing your options, reviewing career ideas for retired or transitioning teachers can help you see what aligns best with your skills and goals.
From Burnout to Business Ownership
You’re likely thinking this:
Are you ready to own your own business?
And the truth is that if you have been a teacher for one year or thirty and you’re finding it’s just not what it once was, the answer is yes.
As a teacher, you’re the captain of the ship.
You’re working to keep all students aligned and focused on a common goal.
As a business owner, it is much of the same.
The key difference is that you are in control of your own destiny.
You manage the curriculum. You set the boundaries. You pave the path forward.
The next step is getting the training and structure to turn your experience into a real, profitable path forward.
The Executive Function Coaching Certification at EFCA gives you the tools to build a sustainable business in 2026 and move from burnout to business ownership on your terms.
To get started, complete the certification application.
Why suffer in a job that you don’t love?
For more on how to become an executive function coach, watch this video👇
The Bottom Line
Teacher burnout in 2026 is not a sign that educators are failing.
It is a sign that the job has become unsustainably heavy for far too many people.
Rising demands, staffing shortages, behavioral challenges, and lack of autonomy are pushing teachers toward chronic stress and career change.
A pivot into a path like executive function coaching may offer a more sustainable and meaningful future for teachers who are ready for something different.
To get EF coach certified and learn the foundations to starting your EF Coaching business, click here.
Hope this helps!
FAQs
Can teachers make money as executive function coaches?
If you are hoping to make money as an executive function coach, you are in luck. Many teachers who have exited the field of education have gone on to become highly successful and profitable executive function coaches.
On average, EF coaches charge $100-$150/hour. Some coaches are even making $10,000+/month.
What are the symptoms of teacher burnout?
Symptoms of teacher burnout can take many forms. However, most teachers experiencing burnout will cite things like chronic fatigue despite ample sleep, irritability, detachment from students, declining performance, frequent headaches, and signs of anxiety or depression.
Can I coach remotely?
Absolutely. Many coaches have a thriving practice entirely online. Video calls are highly effective for coaching sessions, and digital tools for organization and planning are often a core part of the strategies you'll teach. This gives you the flexibility to work with students from anywhere.
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About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.