A message sent via Twitter tells the tale.

"My fellow teacher residents and I are going through deep strife and depression right now and I'm holding a healing session tomorrow evening. Any meditative or healing resources you can share? Anything will do!"

The pressures we are subjecting teachers to are taking a toll. When our leaders hold schools responsible for overcoming poverty, teachers sometimes feel as if their work is never enough. And in addition to meeting all the needs of their students, teachers are also expected to constantly monitor data, communicate with parents, and even act as security guards when violence invades the school. Many teachers have families of their own, and find themselves in a losing race to meet the competing demands for their time and energy.

But it's not just the every day pressures that are getting to our teachers. Teaching is a highly interpersonal profession and constantly engaging in relationships means that teachers are always at the intersection of two or more histories of positive and negative experiences coloring each individual's thoughts, feelings, and actions. Negotiating these interpersonal dynamics can put a drain on anyone. But for teachers, every moment is all about relationships. Whether interacting with a student, fellow teacher, parent, or administrator - it's inescapable. And when we expect our teachers to be, not only instructional leaders, but sometimes counselors, parents, mentor-figures to students, it is no wonder they feel like they are drowning.

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