The Messy Reality of Teaching: Burnout, AI, and What 2026 Holds

Term 1 is over — and instead of wrapping it up neatly, this episode leans into the reality that teaching is often anything but tidy.

Alex Gray is joined by Drew Owen and Bodruz Jamir for an open, honest conversation about the messy reality of teaching in international schools. From burnout and workload pressure to leadership identity shifts and the growing influence of AI in education, this episode reflects the conversations educators tend to have once the bell stops ringing.

Together, they unpack what this term has demanded emotionally and professionally — and what educators should be thinking about as we look ahead to 2026.

• Why Term 1 often feels heavier than any other part of the year

• Burnout, energy dips, and the pressure to keep performing

• Stepping into — and letting go of — leadership roles

• Email overload, communication systems, and productivity challenges

• AI in education: opportunity, risk, and the importance of domain knowledge

• Why human judgment still matters in an increasingly automated world

• What teachers and leaders should be paying attention to heading into 2026

This isn’t a how-to episode. It’s a shared moment of recognition — the kind of conversation educators have when they finally stop, reflect, and take stock.

If you’re ending a long term, stepping into a new role, or trying to make sense of change in education, this one’s for you.

🎙️ The International Classroom Podcast
📍 Teaching in Dubai. Thinking globally.

In this episode, we explore: