Wednesday, June 18, 2025
A new national study by Prodigy Education reports that stress on teachers has reached alarming levels. According to the study, 95 percent of educators report some level of stress, and nearly half describe 2024-25 as the most stressful year of their careers.
But for Edward Courtney, a WINGS teacher — What I Need to Grow as a Student — at Long Beach’s East Elementary School, the national narrative doesn’t entirely reflect his reality.
“Yes, it is a stressful career path, but how you use those challenges and those extra stressors can lead to many positive things,” Courtney, 38, said. “There is a potential there to do rewarding things.”
The data from Prodigy Education, an educational game platform based in Canada, shows that 68 percent of teachers report moderate to extreme stress. Student behavior is the top stressor, followed by low salaries and administrative burdens. These findings match broader concerns, especially among public school teachers. Forty-five percent of teachers view this school year as their most stressful ever, more so than even at the height of the pandemic.
Courtney, who grew up in North Massapequa, graduated from, St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington and studied education at Fordham University, started teaching in Long Beach just before the pandemic hit. He acknowledges the unique stress of those early months. But instead of becoming overwhelmed, he saw it as a moment to re-evaluate and restructure his approach. He attributes his long-term success to maintaining a strong work-life balance and setting boundaries.
“For myself, and the example that I can use when I leave this building, work ends there,” Courtney said. “I don’t check my email. I establish the boundary that I will get back to you within 24 hours if I see an email, but I don’t harp on it. I don’t open it up past work hours. It will be there tomorrow.
“I will go home, and I will work out, I will go out for a run, I’ll take my dogs for a walk,” he continued. “… I’ll sit on the couch and carve out an hour to watch my TV shows. Having those boundaries and that structure to establish work is work, home is home, that is so important.”
East School faced prolonged uncertainty about its future, a situation Courtney described as a “dark cloud” that loomed over the faculty and staff for over a year. Despite the uncertainty, he said, the crisis united the community. Parents, teachers and administrators rallied around the school, which gave everyone a renewed sense of purpose and pride. The staff focused on positivity and solidarity, and on projecting that energy to their students. That mindset, Courtney believes, helped lift morale.
Seventy-eight percent of teachers attempt to practice self-care, the Prodigy Education study found, though 43 percent said they feel guilty about it. Courtney believes the key lies in removing guilt from the equation, and treating personal time as a necessity, not a luxury.
Nearly one in 10 teachers plan to quit this year, according to the study, and 23 percent are considering it. Courtney acknowledges that challenges in the profession are real and ongoing, but he said he believes that finding personal purpose and joy in teaching can help counterbalance the difficulties.
“I think knowing the reason why you’re in this field, why you’re here, that will start to chip away at the bigger challenges,” he said. “It may sound cliche, it may sound very optimistic, but that’s where we need to live, that’s where we need to thrive, is in the positive optimism, and be proactive and know that challenges are thrown at us all the time.”
Teacher appreciation was another key theme in the report, with many educators saying they feel undervalued. Courtney, however, points to Long Beach as an exception, highlighting strong support from fellow staff and administrators as well as parents. As the teacher liaison for the Parent Teacher Association, he works closely with parents who are consistently supportive and involved, he said.
From Spirit Weeks to plans for redesigning the faculty room, Courtney said, he feels heard and appreciated, factors that contribute to a more positive work environment.
While the study highlights significant stress levels among teachers, Courtney’s experience shows the importance of community support in helping educators manage these challenges. A positive school environment and active engagement can contribute to better handling of the pressures that come with the profession.
