A January 2022 survey conducted with over 3600 teachers who belong to the National Education Association found that 90% believe teacher burnout is a serious issue. Fifty-five percent indicated that they are more likely to leave or retire from education sooner than planned because of the pandemic, almost double the number saying the same in July 2020. As I thought about a classic episode of Point of Learning that could be very helpful for teachers, teacher leaders, and building administrators who are looking for professional encouragement, it didn't take long to settle on my conversation with Jill Harrison Berg, recorded in the fall of 2018. Jill's book, Leading in Sync, which we discuss in this episode, is a text I recommend to anyone interested in more collaborative structures that can make schools function better for everyone--students, faculty, and staff. Arguing that leadership is influence, Berg lays out how to build and strengthen systems of collaboration and communication in an organization so that folks are pulling in the same direction--as opposed to working at cross purposes.

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