Abstract. The challenging reality that teachers and school personnel face is emerging and demands acknowledgment. High occupational stress exacerbates teacher burnout, loss of engagement, job dissatisfaction, poor performance, and even one of the worst turnover rates in human history, impacting teacher health and well-being. Teachers must address stress promptly to prevent its adverse effects on their work. This illustrative retrospective single-case study design explored and understood the occupational stress-coping mechanisms of private high school teachers. The researcher employed a semi-structured interview guide to collect data about five private high school teachers who teach at a PAASCU Accredited School. The result revealed three themes: Problem-Focused, Self-recreation, and Social-Support Mechanism. Teachers who handle occupational stress well can perform better, creating a positive learning environment for students due to the interconnectedness of stress mechanisms. This study concludes on the premise that being stressed at work affects the overall performance of teachers. Therefore, the ability to cope with occupational stress contributes to teachers, and teachers who feel equipped to handle the demands of their jobs are more likely to find fulfillment in their careers.

Keywords: Occupational Stress, Coping Mechanisms, Problem-Focused, Self-recreation, Social-support