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helping school communities to flourish
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Being Strategic About Workplace Wellbeing
Leading with Culture: How to create conditions for staff to thrive
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The Simple Guide to Workplace Wellbeing: What school leaders need to know
Unplugged - How to Switch Off for School Leaders
Are You OK? Supporting each other at work
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Publications
Publications
82
Jul 2025
Open Mind Education
Switching Off & The Cost Of Always Being On
Discussing the barriers to switching off in non-work time and tips to help you switch off more effectively.
78
Jun 2025
5 Reasons Schools Should Prioritise Staff Wellbeing
Investing in staff wellbeing in schools delivers benefits that extend far beyond individual staff members.
77
Jun 2025
Strategic Staff Wellbeing in Schools: Six Steps to Boost Retention and Reduce Burnout
How schools can take a simple, 6-step strategic approach to make a meaningful difference to staf wellbeing.
81
May 2025
PDF
The Simple Guide to Workplace Wellbeing
This simple guide is designed to support you—school leaders, teachers, support staff.
73
May 2025
School Management Plus
Healthy school leaders know how to switch off
Why is is important that school leaders switch off in non-work time and effective switching off strategies.
68
Apr 2025
Beat Teacher Burnout Podcast
Understanding the Burnout Continuum
Discussing the Burnout Continuum with Rowena Hicks
69
Mar 2025
Still Human Podcast
The Pressures of School Leadership
Why are so many school leaders burning out and what can we do to stop it? Dr Helen Kelly shares hard truths and practical solutions.
76
Jan 2025
The International Educator
Building a positive workplace culture in schools
How do schools maximise the quality of the workplace culture for their leaders and staff?
74
Nov 2024
School Management Plus
How schools can avoid wasting money on ineffective wellbeing schemes
How being strategic about staff wellbeing ensures money is invested wisely and not wasted.
80
Nov 2024
PDF
Sleep Well Lead Well
For school leaders, quality sleep is a game-changer, enhancing cognitive function and emotional regulation.
75
Sep 2024
School Management Plus
What schools get wrong about workplace culture
Why workplace culture is key to maximising staff wellbeing and the key pitfalls for schools.
67
Apr 2024
Are We Losing Staff Community in Schools and What Can We Do About it?
Regardless of a school’s context, when I conduct surveys and focus groups, the same main theme emerges - staff want closer connections with colleagues and leadership.
72
Dec 2023
The Assistant Principal Podcast
Wellbeing is About the Small Things
How can school leaders make changes to the school environment to help prevent staff burning out?
66
Sep 2023
School Management Plus
Does your school have a culture of overwork?
Dr Helen Kelly looks at why many schools see 'working hard' as the central measure of an educator's value - and why this is counterproductive
71
Jul 2023
The Assistant Principal Podcast
Burnout as a Condition of the Workplace
Discussing how burnout is not a condition of the individual but of the environment in which we work.
65
Jun 2023
International School Leader
How to avoid school leader burnout
While the wellbeing of students and staff has climbed the agenda since the pandemic, the wellbeing of school leaders is still a low priority.
63
Jun 2023
The Edusalon
Educator Wellbeing and Burnout
Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Helen Kelly about educator wellbeing and burnout.
62
May 2023
ISLECIS Loft Live
How to Avoid Burnout
Discussing what educators can do to maximise their workplace wellbeing and avoid burnout.
64
Apr 2023
Principal Matters
Helping Leaders Improve Wellbeing
Talking with Will parker about the importance of taking care of oneself as a school leader
61
Mar 2023
The International Educator
What is School Leader Burnout and Why Does it Matter?
Burnout is a workplace condition. Lack of control can lead to suspicion, mistrust, and ill-feelings, making them particularly vulnerable to high levels of stress and potential burnout.
79
Feb 2023
Routledge
School Leaders Matter
This book outlines practical steps that both government and schools can implement to significantly reduce the demands placed upon school leaders.
60
Feb 2023
Flourishing at School
School Leaders Matter
Talking to Tamara Lechner of Flourishing at School podcast about the main themes of my new book School Leaders Matter: Preventing Burnout, Managing Stress and Improving Wellbeing.
59
Feb 2023
International Schools Podcast
Causes of Educator Burnout
Talking with John Mikton about the causes of educator burnout
55
Feb 2023
Flourishing at School
Teacher Burnout
Discussing educator burnout with Jason van Schie and Tamara Lechner
56
Jan 2023
The Wonders of Wellbeing
Being Strategic About Wellbeing
Talking about the importance of taking a strategic approach to bring meaningful improvement to staff and student wellbeing.
57
Jan 2023
International Schools Podcast
What is Educator Burnout?
Discussing learnings from my research on how schools should approach employee wellbeing.
53
Nov 2022
Improving Workplace Culture in Schools Part 2: Belonging
Workplace belonging is a key component of a positive workplace culture. Schools foster belonging when they unite staff around a shared purpose and create an environment where everyone feels accepted, respected and recognised.
52
Oct 2022
Is Underfunding and Staff Burnout Creating a Global Crisis in Special Education?
Underfunding in a high-burnout profession is impacting staff recruitment and retention globally. Ultimately, pupils and their families are being failed by the system.
50
Oct 2022
Teacher Burnout: Is Workload the Elephant in the Room or Just a Tick Box?
Studies show that workload is the single biggest contributor to the burnout of teaching staff in schools. Yet despite increasing interest in improving the wellbeing of staff, many schools seem reluctant to address workload effectively.
49
Sep 2022
Why Schools Should do More to Improve Workplace Culture
Research from around the world shows that staff working in schools have lower levels of wellbeing and higher levels of burnout than the general population.
51
Jul 2022
International Schools Podcast
A conversation with Dr. Helen Kelly Researcher, writer, speaker, consultant on school wellbeing
Helen shares learnings from her research on the demands of the school leader's role and how schools can support leaders better. She also discusses the impact of the pandemic on International school teachers and leaders.
36
Apr 2022
Psych Health and Safety
Teachers are not to blame for their own burnout
Talking about burnout in teachers and school principals and how schools can better manage psychosocial hazards.
39
Mar 2022
School Management Plus
Teachers are not to blame for their own burnout
Teacher burnout is caused by workplace demands rather than individual character flaws, writes Dr Helen Kelly Access the article here...
1
Aug 2021
Why Schools Should Take Teacher Burnout More Seriously
As we start another school year in the northern hemisphere I reflect back on the hundreds of conversations I have had over the last twelve months with educators...
40
Jun 2021
Wellbeing in International Schools
Improving School Wellbeing Through Positive School Culture
Research shows that workplace culture has a much greater impact on staff wellbeing than workload. How can we improve the culture of the workplace?
2
Apr 2021
Where's Your Head At?
Wellbeing and Resilience in Schools
Discussing how school leaders can attend to their own wellbeing and support the wellbeing of others in their communities.
41
Apr 2021
School Management Plus
Covid’s troubling impact on international school teacher wellbeing
International school leaders need to 'take heed' of staff who say they need more support, writes Dr Helen Kelly.
3
Apr 2021
International School Teacher Wellbeing During the COVID 19 Crisis 2020-21
I provide schools and other organisations with the inspiration, knowledge and tools to maximise the wellbeing of their whole community.
4
Mar 2021
Teaching Through the Pandemic – What Has Been Most Challenging For International School Teachers?
This is the third article in my series on international school teacher wellbeing during the COVID 19 crisis, based upon a survey which I conducted in January and February 2021....
5
Mar 2021
International School Teacher Wellbeing – How Can Schools Support Teachers More Effectively?
Earlier this week, I published the main findings from my research into International School Teacher Wellbeing During the COVID 19 Crisis 2020-21. It is important to give teachers a voice and...
7
Mar 2021
First Results from International School Teacher Wellbeing Survey Reflect Poorly on Senior Leadership
In January and February of this year, 275 international school teachers from 46 countries took part in an comprehensive survey about their mental health and wellbeing. The infographic shows the...
9
Mar 2021
Should Schools be Responsible for Addressing the Child Mental Health Crisis?
Schools around the world are becoming the front-line for dealing with child mental health issues, yet should this be the case and if so are governments providing schools with the...
10
Jan 2021
How Do Schools Develop an Effective Staff Wellbeing Policy?
In my last article What are the Most Effective Steps Schools Can Take to Support Teachers’ and Leaders’ Mental Health and Wellbeing? I listed nine steps that schools can take to determine...
11
Jan 2021
What are the Most Effective Steps Schools Can Take to Support Teachers’ and Leaders’ Mental Health and Wellbeing?
There is a host of data from around the world which suggests that teachers and school leaders experience significantly more work-related stress than the general population and are more vulnerable...
13
Jan 2021
How Can School Leaders Support Staff With Mental Health Concerns?
The mental health of educators is a growing concern around the world. One in twenty UK teachers now report mental health problems lasting more than 12 months and half of...
37
Jan 2021
We Lead Well
What Do You Need?
Discussing the needs of school leaders and the importance of self-care.
14
Jan 2021
What is Burnout and How Can Teachers and School Leaders Overcome It?
Back in September 2020 in my article Is an Epidemic of COVID Burnout Awaiting our School Leaders? I shared my own experiences of an occupational burnout diagnosed the year before. I also...
44
Jan 2021
International Teacher
Leaders under pressure: SLT wellbeing during the pandemic
Following an October 2020 survey of over 700 school leaders, former international school head, Dr. Helen Kelly concluded that colleagues in leadership positions ended 2020 under unprecedented pressure.
43
Jan 2021
International School Parent
Why school leader wellbeing should matter to the whole community
The media is filled almost every day with reports of increased stress and mental health issues that schools are facing in the wake of the current pandemic crisis.
38
Dec 2020
Key Voices Podcast
School Leader Wellbeing and How Governors Can Support it
Discussing how governors play a role in ensuring the wellbeing of their leaders.
15
Dec 2020
School Leader Wellbeing During the COVID 19 Pandemic – The 2020 Report
I provide schools and other organisations with the inspiration, knowledge and tools to maximise the wellbeing of their whole community.
45
Dec 2020
The International Educator
New Survey Reveals Worrying Levels of Stress Among International School Leaders
The COVID 19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the wellbeing of school leaders around the world.
16
Dec 2020
Why Should Parents Care About School Leader Wellbeing?
The media is filled almost every day with reports of increased stress and mental health issues that schools are facing in the wake of the current pandemic crisis. Most focus...
42
Dec 2020
TES
How is the stress of Covid-19 affecting school leaders?
Interested to understand the impact of the pandemic on school leader wellbeing, Helen Kelly conducted her own research and was worried by the results.
17
Nov 2020
School Leader Voices Tell the Real Story of Pandemic Stress
In my recent study into school leader wellbeing during the COVID 19 crisis 70% of the 721 school leaders who took part say they have come close to breaking point...
18
Nov 2020
School Leader Wellbeing Survey Reveals Worrying Pandemic Stress Levels
Many thanks to all those 721 school leaders around the world who took part in my online survey last month. I have prepared an infographic to share the highlights. A...
19
Nov 2020
How Can School Leaders Manage Increased Community Anxiety During the Second Lockdown?
As Germany, France and the UK move into new national lockdowns this week, the decision has been taken to keep schools open. Anxiety among teaching staff and parents...
20
Nov 2020
How Can We Persuade School Governors/Trustees to Take School Leader Wellbeing Seriously?
On Thursday I led a Zoom town hall discussion with a large group of Montessori school leaders from across the USA who had reached out to ask for my support....
21
Oct 2020
Resilience Programmes – Are We Ignoring the Real Truth About Childhood Resilience?
Resilience has been a buzzword in education for the last 5-10 years but since the declaration of a global pandemic there has been a much greater focus on the importance...
22
Oct 2020
The Myth of the Resilient Child
There has been a big conversation happening in the media over recent months about the potential impact of the COVID crisis on the emotional health of our young people. Some...
23
Oct 2020
Leading Through a Pandemic: Building School Leader Resilience
The COVID 19 crisis is increasing the huge levels of stress already experienced by international school leaders. While some are thriving in the face of the challenge, many are overwhelmed...
24
Oct 2020
Leading Through a Pandemic: How Can We Support Middle Leader Wellbeing?
In my article Are Schools Asking Too Much of Middle Leaders? I examined how the current COVID crisis is leaving many middle leaders exhausted and disillusioned with some close to burnout. Since...
47
Sep 2020
The International Educator
School leader wellbeing amid the ongoing COVID crisis
How is the pandemic impacting the wellbeing of school leaders around the world?
25
Sep 2020
Leading Through a Pandemic: Are Schools Asking Too Much of Middle Leaders?
The COVID crisis has brought new and unexpected demands for already overburdened middle leaders in schools around the world. Middle leaders are the linchpins holding our schools together but a...
26
Sep 2020
Leading Through the Pandemic: Is School Leader Loneliness Increasing Under COVID?
My article The Loneliness of the International School Leader from 2018, is by far my most read and commented upon post, striking a chord with school leaders around the world. Since the...
27
Sep 2020
Leading Through the Pandemic-Is a Sense of Over-responsibility Harming School Leaders?
In my doctoral research “International Schools as Emotional Arenas: Facing the Leadership Challenges in a German Context” (2017) an emerging theme that went largely unexplored was the heightened sense of...
28
Sep 2020
Leading Through the Pandemic-Is an Epidemic of COVID Burnout Awaiting our School Leaders?
A year ago, at the start of the 2019-20 school year, I took the decision to retire from work at the end of the year, at the age of 56....
29
May 2019
The Epidemic of Workplace Stress Facing Women Educators
The current teacher strikes in New Zealand have brought into sharp relief the issues facing overworked and stressed educators around the world. On social media groups increasing stories are posted...
30
May 2019
Overcoming Loneliness as an International School Leader
In a previous article, The Loneliness of the International School Leader, I wrote about the professional and personal isolation of principals and heads around the world. We are built for social...
31
Mar 2019
The Loneliness of the International School Leader
The loneliness of headship is a commonly recurring theme in the literature on school leader wellbeing. What MacBeath (2009) calls “structural loneliness” results from the lack of external support available to school...
35
Mar 2019
Why Relationships Matter Most in Maximising School Leader Wellbeing
Research shows that the interpersonal demands placed on school leaders bring just as much stress, if not more, than the workload demands of having too much to do and not...
34
Mar 2019
Why are Middle Leaders in Schools so Stressed?
The demands on middle leaders in schools are increasing, accompanied by increased levels of stress. In the past, the middle leader role was often defined in one of two ways,...
33
Mar 2019
Why Principal Wellbeing Should Matter to the Whole Community
Employees today, across a range of industries, are experiencing increased work-related stress. The intensification of work, as technology speeds up the movement of data and increases time and deadline pressures,...
32
Mar 2019
Why is the School Principal’s Role so Emotionally Draining?
There is considerable evidence that school leaders find their work stressful and that, for many, this is impacting on their individual wellbeing. A study into the recruitment and retention of...
