What if the solution to teacher burnout isn't asking teachers to fix themselves, but building systems that lighten their load?

In this episode, Laura Donnelly and Jill Hanley, co-authors of "What Can I Take Off Your Plate?", challenge the conventional approach to teacher burnout that places the burden on individual educators. Instead of telling overwhelmed teachers to practice more self-care, they argue that school leaders must create intentional systems that remove unnecessary weight from what's already on teachers' plates.

Drawing from their experience transforming a high-need elementary school with 82% free and reduced lunch and 44% English language learners, Laura and Jill share practical strategies for building sustainable systems. From crafting master schedules that prioritize collaboration to establishing consistent behavior support protocols, they reveal how thoughtful operational decisions become powerful cultural statements about what a school truly values.

Through the story of "Mrs. Wilson" and other composite teacher experiences, they demonstrate how common pain points—unclear communication, inconsistent feedback, and lack of behavior support—can be systematically addressed through better leadership practices, not individual teacher resilience.

Key Insights

• Systems Over Self-Care: Why addressing teacher burnout requires operational changes, not just wellness programs
• Mission-Driven Decisions: How a collaboratively-built vision becomes the filter for every school choice, from grant opportunities to meeting agendas
• The Master Schedule as Culture: Why intentional scheduling that prioritizes collaboration over convenience reflects true school values
• Behavior Data Beyond Discipline: How analyzing student behavior patterns systemically supports both teachers and students
• Walkthroughs vs. Feedback Loops: The crucial difference between gathering school-wide data and providing individual teacher coaching
• Appreciation as Foundation: Why authentic recognition forms the bedrock of sustainable school improvement
• Intentionality Over Urgency: How stepping back to build systems prevents leaders from getting trapped in constant crisis mode

Listen now: