80 years and not a bit tired: Teacher Verena Zapf continues!

80 years and not a bit tired: Teacher Verena Zapf continues!

Verena Zapf, an 80-year-old teacher, recently celebrated her milestone birthday. She is one of the longest -serving teachers in Germany and teaches biology and chemistry at the Köpenick Evangelical School in Berlin. Despite her advanced age, she is convinced that she can teach up to 100 years old. Her commitment is shown in her weekly work assignment of two days with a total of six hours of lessons, mostly in biology performance courses. The joy she feels about working with students and colleagues drives her to stay active. She visits a gym at regular intervals, goes for a walk and meets friends, which decisively shapes her lifestyle.

Kerstin Schwitters, the deputy headmistress of the Evangelical School, describes Zapf as a great asset for school. Her extensive wealth of experience not only benefits the students, but also the younger teachers. Zapf emphasizes the importance of teacher health and the individual consideration of the students. Despite the fact that she is not by you with her students, she maintains a respectful exchange at eye level and takes the time to listen to the problems of her students.

The stress potential in the teaching profession

The working conditions of teachers are crucial for their health. According to the German school portal , they face major challenges, especially in dealing with unmotivated or undisciplined students, the high noise level in schools and the diverse administrative tasks. These stress factors significantly burden the teachers and lead to a high level of workload. Teachers often have difficulty separating between work and private life, which has a negative impact on their health.

Compared to other employment, studies show that teachers have significantly higher values ​​in psychological exhaustion. The strongest stress factor is the emotional burden from which many teachers suffer. During Corona pandemic, these challenges tightened by school closures and inadequate digital solutions. An effective school climate and the support of colleagues are essential to promote resilience and reduce stress.

health promotion in the teaching profession

The health of teachers have increasingly existed in Germany since the 2000s. Despite these efforts, most programs focus more on individual resources instead of improving the conditions in schools structurally. A study proves that 61.8% of the teachers have difficulty switching off after work, which is a challenge for their mental health.

In order to strengthen teacher health, measures are necessary to tackle the school climate and the organizational structure. It is crucial to address the emotional burdens of teachers and to develop specific support offers. A holistic approach can help to establish a health -promoting school culture in order to keep teachers in the long term.

Verena Zapfs Get Engagement and her passion for the teaching profession are an example of how a positive attitude and active health promotion can lead to a long, fulfilling working life. Their experiences and the challenges that many teachers face illustrate the need to change in the education system in order to support the teachers and to promote their health.