A growing body of research shows that resilience is a vital skill within school communities, essential for both students and teachers. Students with high resilience have been shown to handle academic pressure, persevere through setbacks, maintain a positive attitude, and enhance their chances of success in both academics and personal development.
For teachers, resilience enables them to thrive in challenging circumstances, manage behaviour effectively, empathise with difficult students, regulate negative emotions, and maintain focus on the positive.
Peta Sigley, CEO and Co-Founder of Springfox said resilient teachers are equipped with the tools, understanding, and skills to model appropriate responses to challenging tasks, people, and situations.
“Recognising those in the school community who need to rebuild their resilience allows for targeted strategies that address specific needs,” Sigley told The Educator.
“This proactive approach not only helps individuals cope better with current challenges but also equips them with the skills to manage future adversities, fostering a healthier and more resilient school environment.”
Sigley said leaders should watch for signs like withdrawal, decreased engagement, anxiety, anger, or other behavioural changes, which may indicate an individual is struggling to cope.
“Early detection of these signs is crucial, as it enables educators to implement support systems before issues escalate, promoting resilience and well-being throughout the school community,” she said. “Creating a safe and supportive learning environment is also fundamental.
Sigley said fostering empathy by encouraging both teachers and students to connect with peers and colleagues beyond their immediate social circles and explore new activities and challenges together will build a sense of belonging.
“These experiences help students discover their strengths and develop agency, while also providing opportunities to help and support others,” she said. “This collaborative environment can reduce feelings of isolation and stress, helping students build resilience as they navigate challenges.”
Empathy and support enhance relationships and create a sense of community and shared responsibility, Sigley said.
“For many teachers, resilience is required to balance empathy with professional boundaries. While caring deeply about students is important, over-caring can lead to stress,” she said. “Understanding students' emotions without internalising them and setting clear boundaries helps manage this balance effectively.”
Celebrating progress, not just successes, is another key strategy supported by goal setting and reflection, Sigley said.
“Helping students set achievable goals and break larger tasks into smaller milestones enable students to celebrate small wins and accomplishments,” she said. “For teachers, recognising and celebrating incremental progress reduces the pressure for perfect outcomes and emphasises growth and development.”
Sigley said this approach maintains motivation and reduces burnout by highlighting the value in each step of the learning process for both them and their students.
“It is equally important to teach students and teachers how to manage stress and anxiety. While some stress can motivate positive action, excessive anxiety can be paralysing,” she said.
“School leaders can help by encouraging teachers and students to focus on what is controllable, challenge unrealistic thoughts, and maintain a balanced perspective. Teachers who adopt these strategies will model resilience for their students, creating a healthier classroom environment.”
For many teachers, resilience involves balancing empathy with professional boundaries, Sigley said.
“While caring deeply about students is important, over-caring can lead to stress. Understanding students' emotions without internalising them and setting clear boundaries helps manage this balance effectively,” she said. “Finally, establishing routines that support resilience can benefit everyone.”
Sigley noted that maintaining consistent sleep schedules, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and mindfulness practices can also help manage stress and improve focus.
“Educators might also consider integrating these practices into the school day to support both students and teachers.”