A new community‑driven app supported by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) technology transfer office aims to shine a light on the growing challenge of burnout among new teachers.
Lori Edmonds, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the UAB School of Education and Human Science, created the TeaCha™ app to connect educators through shared experiences, peer support, and personalized professional learning. The platform will serve as a central tool in a broader initiative to study how teachers at different stages of their career engage with support systems.
“We’re preparing educators, but they’re leaving so quickly,” Edmonds said. “Teachers need more support, more respect, and professional learning that meets their needs.”
The initiative focuses on two groups: pre-service and early-career teachers in undergraduate education programs and experienced educators in graduate programs at UAB. By examining how these groups interact with community-based learning opportunities, Edmonds and her team aim to identify strategies that improve retention and overall well-being. 
Lori Edmonds, Ph.D.
The TeaCha™ app will provide a space where teachers can share experiences, exchange strategies, and support one another. Features include wellness tools, expert-driven content, event listings, and short-form videos highlighting effective classroom practices. Future developments include social feed and real-time interactions. The pilot version, expected to launch this fall, will also integrate teacher-specific promotions and coupons provided by local businesses, such as restaurants and coffee shops.
A key component of the initiative is its connection to Community of Practice Engagement (CoPE) events. These gatherings bring educators together, after school, often at local restaurants, to discuss relevant topics, hear from guest speakers, and connect with peers. Participation has grown steadily, with support from more than 40 locally owned businesses and involvement from educators and administrators across the region.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Edmonds said. “Teachers are asking for more opportunities to connect, even outside of structured professional learning.”
By extending these interactions through the app, the initiative creates an ongoing support system that goes beyond scheduled events.
The project received early support through the Blazer Bridge Fund, an initiative from the UAB Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which functions as UAB’s technology transfer office. That support helped bring the app to a pilot-ready stage. This fall, Edmonds and her team plan to begin testing the app and will conduct research on how participation influences teacher burnout, job satisfaction, and retention.
Edmonds is currently seeking additional grants and funding to further develop the platform and scale its impact.
“Success a year from now would be teachers actively using the app, giving feedback, and helping us improve it,” she said. “This is meant to grow with them, but we need the financial support to make that happen.”
Although the initial work is focused on educators in the Birmingham area, Edmonds sees broader potential. By empowering teachers to connect, collaborate, and advocate collectively, the platform could not only reduce burnout but also influence the education system itself.
“If teachers are able to come together and share a unified voice,” Edmonds said, “that has the power to create real change.”
To learn more about TeaCha™,
-- May 28, 2026