Lisa Kim, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Psychology in Education, Department of Education
Lisa is a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) in the UK and the Director of the Health, Effectiveness, And Retention of Teachers (HEART) Research Group.
Her research interests lie in supporting teacher wellbeing, with the aim of improving teacher effectiveness and teacher retention.
email: lisa.kim@york.ac.uk
Our 60-second interview with Lisa:
Could you please tell us what work you do in the field of mental health?
I study the factors and mechanisms that can affect teachers' wellbeing, and how teachers’ wellbeing can affect various aspects of their lives (e.g., effectiveness and retention), as well as their students, schools and the wider educational system.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring in this work?
It is a privilege to be able to listen to teachers’ voices and experiences, and to relay my research findings to various audiences, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of this work?
The most challenging yet the most rewarding aspect of research for me is translating research into policy and practice. I have been valuing working with practitioners and policymakers to learn from their on-ground experiences and knowledge in pursuit of the common goal of supporting teachers and their wellbeing.
What impact do you hope your work is having - or can potentially have?
The teaching profession is a valuable profession, and I want to help in supporting teachers to be well and effective to continue to make a positive contribution to young people’s lives.
Could you share with us one piece of advice that you follow for your own mental health?
I have learned that not I (nor anyone) can do everything all the time for everybody. I often remind myself that it is sometimes by saying “no” that I can give my best to what I have said “yes” to.