Aspire to Lead · 2026-06-07 · 28 min
What happens when the very systems meant to support education begin driving great teachers out of the profession? In this episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with Brad Gaynor to talk about the growing teacher retention crisis, the hidden emotional and psychological cost of teaching, and why so many good educators are leaving the profession. Brad shares insights from his leadership journey and his own experience with burnout, offering a powerful look at the pressures shaping schools today. Together, they explore how workload, leadership pressure, parent expectations, and behavior challenges are affecting teachers and school leaders across education. Brad also discusses why resilience alone is not the answer and what leaders, teachers, and systems can do to rebuild trust, strengthen culture, and create more sustainable schools for the future. About Brad Gaynor Brad Gaynor is an Australian education leader, executive coach, speaker, and author with more than 35 years of leadership experience across schools and system leadership. Brad is the author of From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset and Not One More Teacher Lost.
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