The Unbroken Teacher

The Unbroken Teacher
The Truth About Teaching, Burnout, and How to Reclaim Yourself
By Nicola Ball

"You are not broken. You are tired. And there’s a difference."

Teaching asks so much of you—your time, your heart, your energy, your soul. And somewhere between lesson plans and late-night marking, between staff meetings and safeguarding reports, many educators begin to lose pieces of themselves.

The Unbroken Teacher is a powerful, heartfelt companion for teachers, TAs, leaders, and support staff who are still showing up—while quietly falling apart.

Written by former headteacher and coach Nicola Ball, this book is part memoir, part mirror, part toolkit. It holds space for the stories we rarely tell—the 3 a.m. anxiety, the staffroom tears, the invisible weight of always being "on." With warmth, wisdom, and a fierce belief in the value of educators, Nicola shows you how to return to yourself—stronger, softer, and whole.

Inside, you’ll discover:

• Gentle reflections on trauma, burnout, and healing
• Practical strategies rooted in coaching, CBT, NLP, and leadership
• Affirmations, journaling prompts, and boundary-building exercises
• Tools to support sustainable teaching, leadership, and life
• A compassionate voice that reminds you: You are not alone.

This book is for you if:

• You’re surviving each week but forgetting how to feel joy
• You’re leading others but losing touch with yourself
• You love your job—but it’s also breaking your heart
• You want to stop performing and start truly healing

Whether you're gifting this to yourself or to a teacher who needs it most, The Unbroken Teacher is the permission slip you didn’t know you needed. It’s a quiet revolution. A soft place to land. A reminder that your wellbeing isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation for everything you do.

You were never meant to survive teaching.
You were meant to thrive in it.

Perfect for:

• Teachers on the edge of burnout
• Newly qualified teachers (NQTs, ECTs) navigating tough transitions
• School leaders carrying too much, too quietly
• CPD support focused on staff wellbeing
• A thoughtful end-of-year teacher gift
• Anyone who loves a teacher and wants to say: I see you

Let this book be your breath of fresh air. Your reminder. Your beginning. Because you were never broken.