Examining Teachers’ Social Emotional Status: Effects of Covid-19 and Technostress
Abstract: Teachers caught in the crossfire of sudden school closings due to the Corona Virus 19 pandemic used a variety of methods to teach children. Districts, principals and other school administrators contributed to the guidelines and outreach methods in varying degrees. Teachers expressed a lack of continuity across schools, grade levels and regions. This study captured public school teachers’ perspectives in real time descriptions of virtual and non-virtual instructional methods along with student responses. Data was gathered in the first full month of the shutdown from 48 schools across 100 counties of the diverse regions of the state. Analysis showed social emotional stress—or technostress--on teachers from learning new technologies to concerns for children and families due to lack of connectivity and other forms of disenfranchisement. Teachers’ thoughts on both their professional futures as well as the educational outlook for schools showed varying degrees of security with a desire for clarity and direction.