Fixing Education: Educator Burnout - PPD155

About this episode

The episode discusses educator burnout and explores its causes, impacts, and potential solutions within the education system.

Burnout is one of the most common and most difficult challenges facing educators today. In Episode 155 of PodcastPD, Chris Nesi and AJ Bianco tackle the topic head-on as part of their ongoing 2026 series exploring how we might “fix” education. While burnout exists in every profession, the unique pressures of education, from student behavior and bureaucratic tasks to unrealistic expectations, can make it especially exhausting for teachers and administrators alike. Chris and AJ explore what burnout really looks like in schools, how small frustrations compound into larger problems, and why educators often feel emotionally drained even when they still care deeply about their students. The conversation also examines systemic issues such as outdated school models, standardized testing pressures, and the disconnect between modern students and traditional schooling. Most importantly, they discuss practical ways educators can support each other, build positive school cultures, and keep moving forward—even when the job feels heavy. In This Episode Defining educator burnout and why it affects teachers and administrators differently How small frustrations compound into professional…

People in this episode

Hosts: Christopher J. Nesi, AJ Bianco

Topics covered

• educator burnout
• education challenges
• supporting educators
• school culture
• systemic issues in education

Keywords

• burnout
• educators
• school culture
• bureaucracy
• student behavior
• leadership
• standardized testing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PodcastPD