Abstract:

The contemporary world presents teachers with numerous challenges arising from both global and local changes. On the global level, educators face the consequences of migration, the COVID-19 pandemic, wars, and the rapid development of digital technologies. Locally, in the Polish context, challenges include systemic reforms in education, changes to the core curriculum, the influx of refugee students from Ukraine, and growing expectations around inclusive education for students with special needs. These processes place teachers in situations that demand ongoing adaptation, reflection, and continuous professional development.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of Polish teachers and identify areas in which they require support. The research combined interpretivist methodology with individual online interviews, analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The participants included 20 teachers (18 women and 2 men) representing different educational stages and career experience ranging from 4 to 40 years.

Research Question and Methodology:
The central research question addressed how participating teachers perceive themselves and the teaching profession as a whole. Data were collected through individual online in-depth interviews and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Three main themes emerged from the interviews:
1. Challenges of the educational reality (e.g., generational change, inclusion, collaboration with specialists);
2. Roles and responsibilities (toward oneself, students, and fellow teachers);
3. Barriers in professional practice (e.g., lack of systemic support, organizational issues, unrealistic expectations, teacher burnout).

As a practical outcome, the project developed and piloted support tools for teachers: an eBook, a series of webinars, and an educational game. These tools promote teachers’ well-being, mentoring, and the creation of a supportive working environment.

Keywords:

Polish Educators, teachers, challenges, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, support project.