Degree Date
3-18-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Dr. Kris Scallon
Second Advisor
Dr. Jean Rock
Third Advisor
Dr. Jana Hennen-Burr
Abstract
Educator well-being has become an urgent concern in K-12 education, as educators continue to experience chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and high levels of burnout. Despite these challenges, few school-based interventions offer timely, individualized support that addresses educators’ real-time emotional needs. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of the Alongside for Educators application on educator well-being within middle and high school settings. The purpose of this research was to explore how the tool supported educators across the Coping-Competence-Context (3Cs) framework, including experiences with the application, contextual factors shaping engagement, and changes in well-being. Qualitative findings from 10 interviews revealed that educators primarily used the tool during moments of acute stress, describing the AI-assisted tool as validating, reflective, and helpful for emotional regulation. Engagement varied widely and was shaped by workload, rollout quality, perceptions of data privacy perceptions, and school culture. Quantitative data from pre- and post-intervention surveys (n=20) showed no statistically significant differences across emotional exhaustion, stress management, educator confidence, perceived student impact, or professional growth; however, moderate effect sizes indicated potential practical benefits for some educators. Integrated results suggested that AI-assisted wellness tools offer meaningful situational support but are highly dependent on context and individual readiness. These findings contribute to emerging research on AI-based mental health interventions and inform educator well-being policy related to mental health supports, ethical AI adoption, and school- and district-level strategies to support educator retention and sustainable working conditions.
Recommended Citation
Grell, A. (2026). The Influence of Alongside for Educators, an AI Wellness Tool, on Educator Well-being (Dissertation, Concordia University, St. Paul). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.csp.edu/edd/83Included in
Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, Educational Technology Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, School Psychology Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons