Promising Results from the Total Teacher Health Project with Amanda Hiner

TAUGHT

Chapters
0:05
The Burnout Problem, Reframed
1:04
Meet Amanda Heiner and Her Work
2:06
Why Total Teacher Health Matters
6:48
Defining a Participatory Approach
6:57
Post‑Pandemic Mental Health Findings
8:20
Root Causes: Workload, Time, Behavior
9:22
Cafeteria Case: Small Fix, Big Impact
11:12
Building the Educator Design Team
12:26
Learn–Plan–Improve Process
14:23
Validating Data and Shared Strain
16:22
Feedback Loops and Buy‑In
18:07
Duration, Ownership, and Scaling
19:07
Balancing Leadership and Voice
21:15
Measurable Gains: Stress and Turnover
22:18
Including Non‑Instructional Staff
24:12
Instructional vs Non‑Instructional Lens
26:30
Cross‑Country Crisis, Shared Solutions
28:10
Low‑Lift Wins: Recognition Done Right
31:05
The 10‑Year Hope: Health First
36:45
Closing: Listen to Educators
TAUGHT
Promising Results from the Total Teacher Health Project with Amanda Hiner
Oct 09, 2025 Season 2 Episode 11
Amy Schamberg

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In this week’s Taught episode, I talk with researcher Amanda Hiner, PhD student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, about the Total Teacher Health project and what happens when schools move beyond surface-level “wellness” and start tackling root causes.

When the Total Teacher Health Project began collecting data across six New England schools, the results were hard to ignore:  76% of educators reported moderate to severe stress, 31% reported clinically significant anxiety, and 49.5% met criteria for depression.

Through the Total Teacher Health project, Amanda and her research team are using a participatory design approach to turn those numbers around. She walks us through their Learn–Plan–Improve model and describes a cafeteria case study where small environmental tweaks and light-touch incentives measurably reduced chaos, improved school climate, and protected teacher bandwidth- without costly programs.

We also explore how to balance educator voice with leadership support, how to include non-instructional staff for broader insight, and how to implement simple recognition practices that actually work.

Tune in to learn how participatory designs - and simply listening - can create transformative change.


Learn more about the Total Teacher Health Project at the University of Connecticut.

Access the Educator Well-being Program infographic here, with QR codes to watch an informational video and sign up for the Total Teacher Health newsletter.

Connect with guest Amanda Hiner on LinkedIn. 

Support the show

Read the Episode Transcript on the TAUGHT website.

Connect with host Amy Schamberg on LinkedIn

Explore:

  • Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach from NIOSH
  • Discover Amy’s wellness workshops, coaching, and consulting at amyschamberg.com
  • Check out the book that started it all! Taught: The Very Private Journal of One Bad Teacher by Melissa Lafort — Available on Amazon

Want to Be a Guest on TAUGHT?
We're always looking to elevate expert voices and real solutions. Email amy@amyschambergwellness.com with your name, title, and a brief description of your perspective or experience in education or workforce wellbeing.

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