Engage Estero Safety Council is made of volunteers serving as a voice for the citizens of greater Estero on safety and transportation priorities and issues. We advocate for related solutions to Village, County, and State Government organizations.
Road Safety in Greater Estero By Contributing Author, Mark Novitski, and Engage Estero Consultant. Everyone has their definition of what determines road safety or, conversely, what makes our roads unsafe. In writing extensively about Corkscrew Road, I have...
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comprtroller Kevin Karnes is now offering an alert notification system for Lee County property owners to reduce fraud. When you sign-up, if a deed, mortgage, or other non-Court official record is recorded in your name, you will be...
Engage Estero Environment Council is a volunteer group focusing on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
During the weekend of April 6th, Engage Estero’s team of volunteers, organized by Julie Yellig, collected 360 pounds of bagged litter. A total of 2.2 tons of litter has been collected since the end of April 2023 (the end of last season), and an astonishing 10 tons...
by Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage Estero. Mia McCormick, Advocate, Environment Florida, identifies why we need wildlife crossings: “Each year, animals at risk of extinction die when cars and creatures collide on Florida roadways. It is the number one cause of...
Engage Estero Community Health Council comprises health* and safety-minded volunteers who think about community health comprehensively with a common desire to improve the overall health of the citizens of greater Estero.
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The facts Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 300,000 lives annually. Approximately 95 percent of SCA victims die before they reach a hospital or receive medical attention. How Can We Help Reduce This...
Engage Estero mobilizes volunteers in our schools, sponsors scholarships, and promotes the involvement of the community through announcements and public forums.
By Mike Wasson, Director, Engage Estero The Village of Estero Council issued a Proclamation its Meeting on Wednesday, March 6th honoring 39 Estero High School Students who were presented the Cambridge Outstanding Learners Awards. In his remarks, Jon McLain, Village of...
The Future Plans for our Schools and Students' Education in Greater EsteroBrought to you by the Engage Estero Education Councilby Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage EsteroPrincipal Leslie Gunderson in her office at Pinewoods Elementary School behind a table full of...
Engage Estero believes the best way to get a community involved is to make sure they are aware of the issues impacting their future, and know how to impact those decisions before they are made. We conduct and publish original research and articles aimed at getting residents Engaged.
Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian likely increased most of our region’s stress levels. Globally1, according to the World Health Organization, anxiety and depression have increased 25% since pre-pandemic levels.
Of all professions, educators at all levels (of whom there are more than 9,000 in Lee County, according to U.S. Census data) are uniquely positioned to be particularly susceptible to the frontline challenges these crises bring.
Prior to the pandemic, teachers were already struggling with burnout, poor performance, and historically high turnover rates, states2 this research study from Penn State University. In 2016, when the article was published, 46% of teachers reported high daily stress.
By 2020, in the depths of the pandemic, over half of the teachers reported considering leaving the profession, more than one quarter reported symptoms of depression, and more than 35% reported symptoms of general anxiety3, this report from the CDC foundation discovered.
Similarly, this Chronicle of Higher Education research summary highlights the increased stress and decreased enjoyment reported by professors. Please click here4, Covid&FacultyCareerPaths_Fidelity_ResearchBrief_v3 (1).pdf (chronicle.com), to learn more.
In this article, a survey of more than 1,100 professors at two- and four-year colleges found that a deteriorating work-life balance and additional concerns for safety and well-being – both for themselves and their students – contributed to stress.
Naturally, these increased demands and the resulting turnover rate of educators have a profound impact on the education system and students.
A5 University of Massachusetts Global article states: “When turnover contributes to teacher shortages, schools may also resort to increasing class sizes or cutting some of their offerings, which can have adverse effects on student learning.”
John W. Krupp, a veteran educator who has taught in nearby Collier County Public Schools, recently published a blog titled6 “Coping With Stress as a Teacher” for KDP, an organization that provides resources to teachers.
In it, Dr. Krupp advises new teachers to engage with a like-minded fellow educator or group. “Find those external supports and surround yourself with them… Doing so will help you overcome the stress of the profession and realize that we have the best job in the world. We can change the world. That can only happen if you stay in the classroom!”
The Go Guardian team prepared an important article in 2020 which provided guidance on “How to Handle stress as a Teacher7. The article provided details on ten tips on how to alleviate stress.
If you have a child or grandchild of school or university age, you can also play a critical role in helping teachers combat the burnout and stress of the changing educational landscape.
Here are a few tips from Guidepost Montessori8:
