Supporting Teachers: Choosing Wellbeing Without Leaving the Profession

Reflections on an Educator’s Journey

Reading recent reflections of an Educator of the Year winner made me feel a mix of admiration and sadness. He wrote, ‘I put everything and everyone before myself, and it had a detrimental impact on my mental health,’ which struck a chord with me. I remembered my struggle with constantly prioritising work over my well-being, and how it led me to a similar breaking point. It’s a common issue faced by so many educators who give their all until there’s nothing left.

“I put everything and everyone before myself, and it had a detrimental impact on my mental health,”

There’s something powerful in his honesty—he left a life of bright lights and big opportunities in Dubai, choosing himself, choosing mental health over everything else. And while his post shows how much he’s gained by stepping away, it also highlights a deeply troubling reality: too many great teachers are forced to choose between their well-being and their profession.

Why Leaving Becomes the Only Option

What strikes me is how often leaving becomes the only way to find peace. We celebrate their courage, and rightly so, but we often overlook the real issue: Why did it come to this? Why are we, as a society, letting incredible educators burn out, walk away, and then patting them on the back for escaping instead of addressing the reason they needed to escape in the first place?

I was that person once. I left education when I was dealing with fertility issues—balancing medical appointments, the emotional strain, and a demanding career was just too overwhelming. I thought leaving was the only path to reclaim my mental health. And while I gained much in the time away—two beautiful children to be precise—I also realised that teaching isn’t just a job; it’s a part of who I am. The pull to return was undeniable, but this time I came back with boundaries—my terms, my pace, and a promise to myself not to fall into the trap of overwork again. But I was fortunate. Not everyone finds their way back.

A Vision for Sustainable Teaching

The long game isn’t about helping educators leave; it’s about ensuring that those who want to stay can do so in a way that honours their health, their passion, and their humanity. The goal should be to transform teaching so that choosing yourself doesn’t mean you have to leave the classroom—it means you have the support to be both a healthy, fulfilled person and an inspiring educator.

This educator’s story is both inspiring and heartbreaking because it didn’t have to end this way. Imagine what could be possible if the best teachers never faced a choice between their calling and their well-being. Picture a system where teachers have access to dedicated mental health professionals, reduced administrative tasks, and structured time for self-care during the workday. Imagine a profession restructured so that staying was not an act of sacrifice but a choice that brought both joy and balance.