When Teacher Stress Becomes a Public Health Emergency

A teacher steps into her classroom to find a crumpled note on her desk: “You should quit.”
Not from a student—this time, from a parent.

She’s not alone. According to a national study of over 9,000 teachers, 43% say they plan to quit and one in four intends to transfer schools. The reasons? Stress. Anxiety. And something few want to admit happens every day in American schools—violence directed at teachers.

This isn’t just about angry students. The research, led by Dr. Susan McMahon and colleagues at DePaul University and published in School Psychology (2024), reveals that teachers are facing aggression from students, parents, colleagues, and even administrators. Each act—whether a verbal threat or a thrown object—chips away at their mental health and commitment to the job.

Violence, Stress, and the Breaking Point

The study found that both verbal threats and physical violence predicted higher anxiety, stress, and ultimately, teachers’ desire to walk away..

Here’s what the data showed:

• 25% of teachers said they want to transfer schools.
• 43% said they plan to quit the profession.
• Anxiety and stress were the strongest predictors of those intentions.

Even more troubling, violence didn’t just come from students.
Parents who lash out over grades, colleagues who intimidate or belittle, and administrators who misuse authority all contribute to what researchers call a “schoolwide ecology of violence.” Each new source adds another layer of strain, leaving teachers trapped in an environment that no longer feels safe.

“My Brain Feels Like a Browser with 100 Tabs Open”

That’s how one teacher described her mental state in another recent study on pandemic-era stress. Between remote teaching chaos, political battles over curriculum, and public hostility toward educators, teachers’ mental health plummeted.

The School Psychology paper puts this into sharp relief:

• Over half of K–12 teachers report burnout.
• One in three experiences clinical levels of anxiety or depression.
• Middle and high school teachers are more likely to feel unsafe and want to leave than elementary teachers.

And for teachers of color, the risk is even higher. They reported greater intentions to transfer or quit, citing both discrimination and a lack of administrative support. As one researcher put it, “When you’re fighting to be respected and to feel safe, it’s hard to focus on teaching.”

The Ripple Effect: Students Pay the Price

Teacher burnout isn’t just a staffing issue—it’s a public health crisis. When educators experience chronic stress and exposure to aggression, students feel the fallout: less emotional support, more classroom chaos, and lower academic performance.

Schools with high teacher turnover also face steeper learning gaps and weaker relationships between staff and families. “When teachers leave, they don’t just take lesson plans,” Dr. McMahon explains. “They take trust, stability, and the social glue that holds school communities together.”

In some states, the crisis has become so dire that districts have turned to college students and even military personnel to fill vacancies. That might keep classrooms open—but it doesn’t solve the root problem.

From Crisis to Change: What Schools Can Do

The good news? Research points to clear steps that can protect teachers and stabilize the profession:

1. Invest in Mental Health for Educators

Programs like Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) and mindfulness-based stress reduction have been proven to reduce teacher anxiety and burnout. These aren’t luxury add-ons—they’re lifelines

2. Build Safe, Respectful School Cultures

Schools should treat teacher safety the way they treat student safety: with zero tolerance for aggression. Clear anti-harassment policies, transparent complaint processes, and restorative justice training can make a real difference.

3. Train Administrators to Lead with Empathy

Strong principals can prevent turnover. In one trial, schools whose leaders received professional development in balanced leadership saw lower teacher quit rates Leadership style, it turns out, can be as protective as pay.

4. Address Systemic Inequities

Teachers of color face disproportionate stress, discrimination, and expectations. Supporting mentorship programs and creating inclusive school climates can improve retention and equity simultaneously.

What Parents and Communities Can Do

Parents might not realize how powerful their role is. Simple actions—like assuming good intent, communicating respectfully, and supporting teachers during conflicts—can ease the emotional load.

And communities can advocate for teacher mental health funding, not just student wellness. As the study notes, sustainable change happens when teachers’ well-being is treated as a foundation for student success, not an afterthought.

The Bottom Line

If we want healthy, thriving schools, we must care for the people who make them possible.
Teachers are not just deliverers of curriculum—they’re first responders to children’s mental and emotional needs.

When nearly half of them are thinking about leaving, that’s not just a staffing crisis.
That’s a warning.

Let’s Talk About It

• What’s the biggest mental health challenge you see in schools today?
• How can schools better protect teachers from stress and aggression?
• If you’re an educator, what kind of support would make you stay?