S3:E2 - Listening to the Signals of Teacher Burnout w/ Kim Johancen
S3 #2

S3:E2 - Listening to the Signals of Teacher Burnout w/ Kim Johancen

Will and Jordan sit down with therapist and former school-based counselor Kim Johancen to define teacher burnout and explain why it isn’t a personal flaw—it’s a human nervous-system response to chronic stress. Kim walks through the early warning signs educators often miss, then shifts into realistic ways to respond, recover, and prevent burnout by building small, sustainable regulation habits and stronger boundaries, along with encouragement and clear signs that healing is happening.


🔑 Key Takeaways

✔️ Burnout is a signal, not a failure—your body is telling you things are out of balance.
✔️ Chronic stress can push the brain into survival mode, which changes how we think and feel.
✔️ Everyone’s burnout looks different, but early awareness makes recovery easier.
✔️ Small, consistent practices can be more effective than waiting for one big “fix.”
✔️ Boundaries and support systems are essential for long-term sustainability in education.

💬 Memorable Quotes

🗣️ “Burnout is a nudge to get back into balance.”
🗣️ “It’s a stress response, not a personal flaw.”
🗣️ “Your experience is valid—and there’s nothing wrong with you.”
🗣️ “Burnout is about disconnection.”
🗣️ “Stress is a normal human response… and you’re not alone.”

🧠 Strategies You’ll Learn
  • How to recognize early burnout signs (physical, emotional, and behavioral)
  • Why micro-moments of regulation throughout the day matter
  • How mindfulness and “orienting” can help your brain return to safety
  • Ways to build resilience without pretending stress doesn’t exist
  • How to set healthier boundaries—personally and system-wide

➕ Additional Practices
  • Create a small “reset routine” you can repeat during the day
  • Pay attention to what improves your mood and energy—and do more of it
  • Talk with colleagues about burnout openly to share tools and reduce isolation
  • Advocate for simple boundary norms that protect staff time
  • Track progress by watching for increased gratitude, clearer limits, and a return of joy


📚 Resources and Links

❤️ Love This Episode?
✅ Share it with a fellow educator!
⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show
💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!
💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/