Teachers are feeling less isolated this year, but stress levels remain high while classes grow more complex. That’s the finding of the ATA’s latest pulse survey.
Conducted in the fall of 2022, the latest in a series of pulse surveys that began in 2020 asked teachers and school leaders about their well-being, class size and conditions, class complexity, COVID-19 and more. ATA president Jason Schilling said the findings reinforce a growing body of data showing that Alberta teachers and school leaders are experiencing unsustainable levels of stress.
“This is taking a huge emotional toll,” he said, “which is why it’s critical that we keep putting pressure on our elected officials to properly fund public education.”
The survey results represent responses received from more than 800 teachers and school leaders.
| MORE THAN 90% of teachers report feeling exhausted by the end of each day. |
| NEARLY 40% of teachers report having class sizes between 30 and 40 students, with the average size being in the mid-30s. |
| THE MAJORITY OF TEACHERS report spending their own personal funds to acquire resources to help with teaching the new curriculum. |
| Class size and conditions of professional practice |
| 73% of school leaders report class size increases in their schools |
| 60% of respondents report an increase in diagnostic testing across grade levels |
| 65% of teachers report increases in their class sizes |
| 57% of respondents report a decrease in supports for students with exceptionalities |
| Complexity |
| 88% of school leaders reported an increase in the complexity of their student populations |
| 86% of teachers reported an increase in the complexity of their classrooms |
| Effects of COVID-19 |
| 86% of teachers reported that students in their classrooms are struggling with learning |
| 84% of teachers reported students having gaps in their understanding of curriculum |
| Future career plans |
| 51% of respondents plan to temporarily interrupt their teaching career to pursue other activities or interests in the next five years |
| 72% of this group say they will pursue other job interests |
