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A special task force chaired by the 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year Cherie Bonder Goldman and tasked with looking at ways to address teacher burnout recently recommended the state, local districts, and schools provide mental health support or strengthen existing programs of mental health support for teachers and staff. In response to this, the State Department of Education announced Wednesday it is launching a statewide Employee Assistance Program for all full-time public-school teachers and staff in the state, along with Pre-K teachers.

“Finding actionable, meaningful ways to support and secure the mental health and wellness of educators very prominently emerged as one of our task force’s top five areas of concern,” said Goldman. “Teachers cannot take care of those whom they have been called upon to take care of if they are not taken care of themselves. To learn that the Georgia Department of Education has taken such immediate steps in response to the voices that we have sought to represent is tremendously encouraging, and I am incredibly grateful that educators and support staff across the entire state will have access to the resources of the EAP.”

Georgia’s Public Education Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a partnership between Kepro and GaDOE, and will be provided at no cost to districts, schools, or employees. This program allows access to mental health counseling, financial and legal resources, work/life referral services, and more.

Georgia’s current Teacher of the Year is also supportive of the new program.

“Supporting our teachers and staff is the key to setting our students up for success,” said 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year (and James Magazine cover model) Michael Kobito. “We can only give our best when we can be at our best. Coming straight from recommendations made in the Teacher Burnout Report, teachers and staff will have resources that help with the mental health strains we face in today’s world and other stressful situations outside the school building. In addition, access to services 24/7 will alleviate some of the stresses and anxieties teachers and staff face, creating more opportunities for a healthier, happier, and more supported workforce.”

These services became available to teachers and staff Wednesday. The EAP is free, confidential, and supportive – neither the state nor local districts or schools will have access to information shared in counseling or consulting sessions.

Services available through the EAP include up to six free sessions of mental health counseling, referral services for childcare, eldercare, home repairs, moving/relocation, and more, and free consultations with legal or financial experts.