Effects of COVID-19 on administrators' and teachers' morale

ABSTRACT

Since March of 2020, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the world changed, and countries closed their schools and moved instruction and student learning to remote and online formats. These changes created challenges ranging from a lack of internet access, the need to learn new technologies, and increased teacher and administrator workloads to social and professional isolation, mental health issues, and increased stress among teachers.This study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on administrators' and teachers' morale. The participants for the study included elementary school teachers and administrators from five elementary and unified school districts in the County of Riverside, California. A mixed-methods approach was used to analyze data collected through a survey with guiding questions for this study included the following (A) What are administrator and teacher experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic? (B) How does teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic impact morale? (C) According to administrators and teachers, how does the COVID-19 pandemic change perception on their own job satisfaction? (D) What can be done to help boost morale in the workplace? This study identified five themes that affected morale frustration of uncertainty, needed support, self-care, relational connection and mental health, and workload. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)