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Something profound is happening in education systems worldwide. Beneath lesson plans and standardized tests lies a deeper crisis: burnout is pushing devoted educators to their breaking points—and beyond. TAUGHT is evolving to meet this critical moment.

In this special transition episode, original creator and host Melissa LeFort passes the torch to Amy Schamberg, signaling a powerful shift from elevating burnout stories to actively exploring solutions. Their conversation reveals the podcast’s deeply personal origins, inspired by the unexpected deaths of two of Melissa’s colleagues—educators who gave everything to their profession but never made it to retirement. This heartbreaking pattern pushed Melissa to create space for raw, honest conversations about the challenges educators face. Over a year of interviews with teachers across the globe, one thing became clear: burnout isn’t just an American problem—it’s a global crisis. Educators everywhere report feeling unsupported, silenced, and devalued, even as they remain deeply committed to their students.

Amy brings a new lens as a school psychologist, wellness coach, and public health doctoral student focused on systems-level change. She shares the moment that transformed her thinking, when a workshop participant told her: “It doesn’t matter how many mindfulness techniques I have if I’m walking back into a toxic environment every day.” That insight solidified her belief that addressing burnout requires more than personal resilience—it demands organizational change. Looking ahead, TAUGHT will spotlight the people and practices actively reshaping school culture to prioritize well-being.

Ready to move beyond surface-level fixes and confront the root causes of educator burnout? Follow TAUGHT wherever you get your podcasts, and join us in reimagining what workplace wellness in education can—and should—be.

Support the show

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website.

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

• Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
• Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
• Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email [email protected] with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

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