Date

Winter 2021

ESRP 9000 Professor

David B. Ross, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

David B. Ross, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

This strategic research project was designed to provide potential solutions to organizational concerns by applying strategic planning and conducting a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats analysis for the public school district organization. The analysis identified mental health as a significant issue among public school educators regarding access to mental health services. The field of education, especially for a classroom teacher, can involve a highly stressful career. Educators experience heavy workloads, combined with underlying health issues that can contribute to poor mental health. As a result, we have educators leaving the field or transferring into other positions.

There are four potential solutions that can contribute to preventing poor mental health in the workplace or organization: positive social relationships, family support, peer counseling, and workplace health promotion. These four potential solutions can be implemented with buy-in from district leadership. A positive work environment that offers respect, emotional support, mutual trust, and personal value can help to reduce stressors that weakens one’s mental health. Family support can be provided from others outside of one’s immediate family. Peer counseling helps with sharing with others who have experienced similar issues. Workplace health promotion is a great option to increase employee sustainability.

The one selected solution of positive social relationships does not cost the school district any money. School board and district leaders can formulate a climate for fostering positive social relationships by eliminating toxic factors. These factors could range from negative language to self-serving leadership. To eliminate high rates of turnover, district leadership should identify all possible ways to protect the employees’ well-being. This one selected solution that could lessen the cost the district is paying into workplace health promotions. On the whole, mental health issues are on the rise for our youth and adults.

The Quantitative Strategic Plan Matrix determined that, of the two possible strategies of Accessibility of Workplace Health Promotion and Professional Learning that derived from the one selected solution, the Professional Learning strategy was more beneficial to the organization to help eliminate or reduce mental health issues in educators. If implementation occurred, the possible findings could demonstrate the Professional Learning strategy would prepare educators to handle any possible weaknesses and threats to the organization. Recommendations made were to broaden the research to other major counties in the State. Final conclusions are the Professional Learning strategy is beneficial to eliminating or reducing the mental health issues of educators that are caused by job-related factors.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Language

English

Download
Share Feedback

Share

COinS