“We’re in Crisis response”: Challenges US Teachers, Counselors, and Principals Experienced Returning to School in Person During the Pandemic

Abstract

ABSTRACT Through focus groups, 27 principals, teachers, and school counselors shared the challenges they faced in their first year returning to school in-person during the pandemic. Though teachers faced numerous instruction-related challenges, they were met with increased pressures from their districts to demonstrate students’ academic progress on state tests. All educators described drastic increases in students’ behavioral issues and mental health crises. In addition, they explained how their overwhelming workloads contributed to their feelings of burnout. Educators shared that they had limited ways to address these challenges because the challenges were beyond their control. We provided research-based recommendations for practice.