06/01/2026

Burnout Among Black Educators: Implications for Career Counseling

By Qresiyuna Swift and Linda Holloway

Career counselors across the country are hearing a similar concern from educators: teaching has become emotionally and mentally exhausting. Increased workloads, limited support, and ongoing classroom demands have caused many teachers to question whether they can continue in the profession. Burnout has become one of the leading reasons educators consider leaving education altogether (NEA, 2023). Recent international studies confirm that excessive workload and organizational pressures are primary contributors to teacher burnout across educational settings (Oliveira et al., 2026).

This challenge in particular concerns Black educators, who play a critical role in student success. Schools benefit academically and socially when Black teachers are present, yet many are leaving due to workplace stress and lack of professional support (NPR, 2019; Brookings Institution, 2018). When Black educators exit the profession, students lose important role models and culturally responsive support systems. Because of this, career counselors are uniquely positioned to help educators manage career stress and identify sustainable pathways within education. Counselor educators are also uniquely positioned to apply these conversations within the classroom by helping counseling students critically examine barriers, workplace stressors, and career sustainability among helping professionals entering educational settings.

Why Burnout Disproportionately Impacts Black Educators
Career counselors working with educators may notice that Black teachers often carry additional responsibilities beyond classroom instruction. Many Black educators and counselor educators serve as informal mentors, cultural translators, and sources of emotional support for students of color, responsibilities that often extend beyond formal job expectations. This extra workload, sometimes referred to as the “invisible tax,” contributes to emotional exhaustion and early burnout (Word in Black, 2022).

Salary disparities and workplace stress also affect retention. Reports indicate Black educators frequently experience higher job-related stress and burnout compared to their peers (NEA, 2023). Research also shows that prolonged teacher burnout is associated with anxiety, depression, and declining mental health outcomes when workplace stress continues without structured support (Agyapong et al., 2022). Additionally, many educators describe experiencing racial battle fatigue—emotional strain caused by ongoing exposure to microaggressions, systemic bias, and disproportionate scrutiny in school environments. These experiences can lead to isolation and increased intentions to leave the profession (Acuff, 2018; Garrett et al., 2024).

The Role of Career Counseling in Supporting Black Teachers
Counselor educators reading this article may recognize many of these stressors within their own professional experiences while also preparing future counselors to support educators navigating workplace burnout and systemic barriers. Career counselors frequently work with educators who are unsure whether they can remain in teaching. Counseling sessions often begin with addressing workplace stress and helping educators establish professional boundaries that protect work-life balance. From there, counselors can guide teachers through career reflection, helping them explore professional options such as leadership roles, instructional coaching, counseling, or curriculum development instead of leaving education entirely.

Counselors also help educators identify the root causes of burnout while developing healthier coping strategies and professional support systems. Given that burnout often includes emotional exhaustion and mental health strain, career counseling interventions can help educators build resilience while identifying career pathways that protect long-term well-being (Agyapong et al., 2022). Research suggests that counseling interventions addressing workplace stress and career dissatisfaction improve professional resilience and satisfaction among helping professionals (Lent & Brown, 2013). By helping educators reassess career goals and identify healthier professional pathways, counselors support long-term career sustainability while protecting mental and emotional well-being.

Career counselors supporting educators experiencing burnout may consider:

• Helping teachers evaluate career options within education rather than leaving the field
• Assisting educators in developing workplace boundaries and work-life balance strategies
• Connecting educators with professional networks or affinity groups
• Using career reflection exercises to rebuild motivation and career confidence
• Supporting transitions into alternative roles such as leadership or counseling

One framework that helps guide career counselors in this work is Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). SCCT helps explain burnout among Black educators because it highlights how personal beliefs, environmental barriers, and available supports influence career confidence and satisfaction. Counselors using SCCT can help educators strengthen self-efficacy, identify supportive work environments, and navigate career barriers while sustaining long-term professional goals.

Counselor educators can also integrate SCCT into career counseling and vocational development courses by using case studies, reflective discussions, and experiential learning activities focused on systemic barriers affecting educators. Recent discussions within career counseling literature have also emphasized the importance of preparing counseling students to critically examine workplace inequities, mentorship burdens, and professional wellness within helping professions (Barnes & Johns, 2022). For example, students may examine how racial battle fatigue, invisible labor, and limited institutional support influence self-efficacy and career persistence among Black educators. These classroom discussions encourage counseling students to critically evaluate how workplace environments shape career development, mental health, and long-term professional satisfaction.

Recommendations for Schools and Counselors
Counselor educators may also use these topics within classroom instruction to help future counselors recognize how systemic inequities and workplace stressors affect career development and professional identity. Schools and districts also play a critical role in preventing burnout. Creating affinity groups for Black educators provides safe spaces for connection and support. Providing culturally responsive mental health resources can reduce stress and improve well-being among teachers of color (NEA, 2023). Addressing racial battle fatigue and ensuring equitable access to leadership opportunities allows educators to feel valued and supported.

School systems that invest in wellness initiatives, mentorship, and leadership development are more likely to retain diverse educators and create healthier work environments overall.

Conclusion
Supporting Black educators is essential for sustaining diverse and effective school communities. When educators lack support, students lose mentors and culturally responsive role models. If schools and counselors fail to address burnout, more educators may leave the profession altogether. Career counselors can play a vital role in helping educators develop sustainable careers while protecting their well-being, ultimately benefiting both educators and the students they serve.

References

Acuff, J. (2018). Confronting racial battle fatigue and comforting my Blackness as an educator. Multicultural Perspectives, 20(3), 174-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/15210960.2018.1467767 

Agyapong, B., Obuodi-Donkor, G., Burback, L., & Wei, Y. (2022). Stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression among teachers: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17), 10706. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710706 

Barnes, N., & Johns, K. (2022, October). Promoting change for Black female counselor educators through the use of the Kaleidoscope Career Model. Career Convergence. https://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/465050/_self/CC_layout_details/false 

Brookings Institution. (2018). For better student outcomes, hire more Black teachers. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/for-better-student-outcomes-hire-more-black-teachers/ 

Garrett, R., Radina, R., & Beasley, C. (2024). Abandonment in the classroom: Urban education, internalized racism, and the school-to-prison pipeline. The Teacher Educator, 59(1), 7-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/08878730.2023.2273367 

Lent, R. W., & Brown, S. D. (2013). Understanding and facilitating career development in the 21st century. Journal of Career Development, 40(1), 4-22.

National Education Association. (2023). What’s causing teacher burnout? https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/whats-causing-teacher-burnout 

National Public Radio. (2019). Black teachers help Black students get to college. https://www.npr.org/2019/01/11/682194015/black-teachers-help-black-students-get-to-college 

Oliveira, S., Roberto, M. S., Veiga-Simão, A. M., & Marques-Pinto, A. (2026). Addressing teacher occupational health in challenging times: The role of a positive organizational climate in buffering teachers’ burnout. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1), 42. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010042 

Word in Black. (2022). The invisible tax on Black teachers. https://wordinblack.com/2022/09/invisible-tax-black-teachers/ 

Qresiyuna Swift is a graduate counseling student at Alabama State University who works in the school system supporting student behavioral and emotional development. She is passionate about career counseling, educator wellness, and creating supportive environments for diverse students and educators.

Dr. Linda J.M. Holloway is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Alabama State University with over 30 years of teaching experience. She teaches Career Counseling. Dr. Holloway is also known for 8 awarding wining children books which can be found on Amazon. She can be reached at lholloway@alasu.edu