Laura Privette

School Counselor, Wife, Mom, Lifelong learner

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

Many Educators Are Not Okay!

Many educators are not okay right now and if you listen closely, you can feel it in the hallways, in the staff meetings, and in the quiet moments after dismissal. Over the past five years, the data has only confirmed what so many of us have experienced firsthand. Around 62% of teachers report frequent job-related stress compared to just 33% of other working adults, and more than half say they are burned out. In fact, teaching consistently ranks among the most burned-out professions, with roughly 52% of educators reporting chronic burnout. This is not about one bad year. It is a sustained pattern. Teachers are being asked to do more than ever, manage behavior, support student mental health, meet rising academic expectations, prepare students for high-stakes testing, and do it all with limited time and increasing scrutiny. Add in constant negative press, initiative overload, and unrealistic expectations, and it becomes a perfect storm for compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion.

And the impact is real. About 1 in 7 teachers leaves the profession or moves schools every year. Nearly 70% of early-career teachers consider leaving within their first five years. Some estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of teachers may exit the profession in the coming years. That is not just a staffing issue, that is a human one.

As a therapist and former school principal, I have seen this up close. Good people are not leaving because they stopped caring. They are leaving because they have cared too much for too long without enough support.

But here is the hopeful part, this is fixable.

We can start by protecting time. Fewer initiatives. More focus. If everything is a priority, nothing is. Give teachers permission to do fewer things better.

We can rebuild connection. Adults need Maslow before Bloom too. Staff meetings that include check-ins, appreciation, and psychological safety are not fluff, they are fuel.

We can reduce the noise. Limit unnecessary emails, meetings, and compliance tasks that pull teachers away from what matters most, relationships and instruction.

We can shift the narrative. Celebrate the good publicly and often. What gets spotlighted gets repeated.

And most importantly, we can remind educators of something they often forget, you are allowed to take care of yourself. You cannot pour into others when your own cup is empty.

Many educators are not okay. But they can be, if we are willing to change the conditions, not just expect them to keep pushing through.

Join the discussion at: https://t.co/015cLKjJ1m

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

One involved, caring, and patient person can change the entire trajectory of a struggling student’s life. When a child feels seen, believed in, and supported — not just when they succeed, but especially when they stumble — something shifts. Hope returns. Walls come down. Growth begins. Sometimes the greatest intervention isn’t a program or a plan — it’s a person who refuses to give up on them.

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

Maslow Before Bloom—For Teachers, Too

This framework isn’t just for students—it’s for you as an educator and a human being.

Maslow reminds you to care for your own needs—rest, connection, emotional safety—so you don’t burn out. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Bloom encourages you to keep growing in your craft: reflecting, learning, creating, and leading with purpose—not just checking boxes.

Gardner helps you embrace your unique teaching style. Your strengths—whether in relationships, creativity, or communication—are your superpowers. Lean into them.

Jung invites you to reflect on who you are, what matters to you, and why you teach. Purpose fuels passion and resilience.

Goleman reminds you to lead with emotional intelligence—recognizing your feelings, building empathy, and connecting with others authentically.

You are more than a teacher. You are a guide, a mentor, and a lifelong learner.
When you take care of you, your students thrive too.

From the book - “Maslow Before Bloom: Then Gardner, Jung & Goleman”:

https://t.co/tNZKsELM2N

[Dr. Bryan Pearlman #MaslowBeforeBloom @DrP_Principal]

The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. If you can be just a little bit better than you were yesterday, you’re winning. Compare yourself only to the person you were before, and let steady growth, not impossible perfection, be your guide.”

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

@DobbinJr @NCSCA Looking forward to it!

[Brad Weinstein @WeinsteinEdu]

Important reminder. 🧡
🌐 https://t.co/1hCgTQNqi4

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

@MissBratton @FPDES Once a Fox, always a Fox! Thank you for all you have done for the students and staff at FPDES! 💚

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

@Dr_THamilton Congratulations! Well deserved.

[York Elementary @YorkESBulldogs]

Congratulations to our very own @kavwilliams3 Principal Williams!

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

@saralilley0804 Congratulations!

[Chick-fil-A Wake Forest @chickenmanWF]

We appreciate all of you amazing teachers! 📚

Present your school ID on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 and we’ll treat you to a 4 ct Chick-n-Mini (6am-10:30am) or a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich (10:30am-9pm). Greater Triangle Area Market only.

Our team can’t wait to serve you!

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

He is Risen!

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

Day 5 of #NSCW2024 Working together to support students. Advocating for the school counseling program and thanking staff for their support. @WakeSchCounslor @NCSCA @ASCAtweets @YorkESBulldogs

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

Happy National School Counseling Week! It was so good to spend time in a room filled with so many great counselors and advocates! #NSCW24 @WakeSchCounslor @ASCAtweets @YorkESBulldogs @4LifeEducator @tarsharpe @NCSCA

[Wake Sch. Counselors @WakeSchCounslor]

Happy National School Counseling Week 2024, WCPSS School Counselors…❤️. @WCPSS @WCPSSProfLearn @WCPSSTeam @ASCAtweets @NCSCA @NCSCA

[Laura Privette @laprivette5]

@huskycounselors @HHS_Huskies @WakeSchCounslor Thank you for ALL you do!

[Wake Sch. Counselors @WakeSchCounslor]

Celebrating National School Counseling Week with WCPSS Superintendent, Dr. Robert Taylor and Michele Woodson, Asst.. Superintendent, Student Support Services. @WCPSS @ASCAtweets @NCSCA @WCPSSTeam @WCPSSProfLearn