Three Myths Fueling Educator Burnout (and what actually makes a difference)
Date: October 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 am UTC
About this session
Many counselors want to lead whole-school well-being from a place of thriving themselves. Instead, counselors, teachers, and admin consistently find themselves sucked back into reactivity and overwhelm. This gap between intention and impact is fueled by myths that have infiltrated K-12 education, sparking the burnout crisis. In this session, we’ll uncover these misconceptions and introduce the research-based shifts that have the power to transform schools from extractive to regenerative.
Speaker
Ruth Poulsen is the Elementary School Principal at the American Community School in Amman, Jordan. Throughout her career, she has served as both an educator and school leader across the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Jordan, bringing extensive international experience to her work in educational leadership and school improvement.
Ruth is the author of the Regenerative Schools newsletter and is currently writing a forthcoming book of the same name, scheduled for publication by Routledge in 2027. Her work focuses on helping schools move beyond reactive and extractive practices toward sustainable systems that promote well-being, growth, and flourishing for both students and educators.
She is a passionate advocate for creating healthier, more regenerative school communities where educators can thrive while supporting student success.
