Assessing Teacher Emotional Intelligence and Burnout Provides a New Lens for School Leaders

• In Event: Roundtable Session 116
  In Roundtable Session: The Roles, Experiences, and Perceptions of Teachers and Leaders in Schools

Abstract

This study determined if emotional intelligence (EI) and teacher burnout were related when compared by gender, age, race, years of experience in the classroom/ at current school, and self-reported stressors. Teachers from four elementary rural schools participated. Males were significantly higher in perceiving emotions than women, whites were significantly higher on experiential emotional intelligence an than 15 years of experience had significantly higher feelings of personal accomplishment; the more stressors listed, the higher their emotional exhaustion scores. By highlighting the factors related to the relationship between EI and burn-out this study contributes to educational leadership. Improving EI may lead to decreased teacher stress and attrition.

Authors

• Nan Thornqvist, School Board of Alachua County

• Linda Behar Horenstein, University of Florida

• Cyndi W. Garvan, University of Florida