As an elementary school teacher in public education for 12 years, I have worked with children aged 2 ½ to 10. I’ve supported families navigating challenges like ADHD, autism, and anxiety, and I’ve provided resources to those facing poverty and homelessness. Throughout my own personal struggles, including pregnancies and family issues, I’ve remained committed to my students. I’ve even prepared children for lockdowns, questioning the reality of the situation myself. Like many educators, I left for spring break in March 2020 and didn’t return to my classroom that year. Now, since my school resumed 100% in-person instruction in August, I’ve avoided the chaos of hybrid learning; however, I am experiencing unprecedented burnout. Here are seven significant losses I’ve faced this year.
1. Time
To ensure safe transitions, students now enter the classroom upon arrival, 30 minutes earlier than before. Additionally, coordinating parent pick-up takes another 15 minutes at the end of the day, totaling a loss of 45 minutes of my planning time daily. Frequent teacher quarantines have meant I must keep students instead of sending them to specials like PE and Music, causing us to lose nearly a quarter of our planning time. With morning meetings now requiring me to report to school 15 minutes before contract time multiple times a week, those minutes add up.
2. Presence of Mind
Navigating COVID-related uncertainties feels like living in multiple realities. I’ve developed comprehensive emergency sub plans that cover individual and class quarantines, and I constantly think about future possibilities, making it hard to be fully present in the moment. Each quarantine requires adjustments to our Google Classroom, and it’s exhausting.
3. Consistency
Our district’s online learning option has led to a gradual influx of new students throughout the year, growing my class size from 16 to 26. Each new student requires a readjustment of our classroom community and routine. The unpredictability of quarantines has further disrupted any semblance of normalcy.
4. Work/Home Separation
With the increased workload, I find myself bringing home more work than ever. The concept of a “sick day” has shifted dramatically. When I was diagnosed with COVID, my whole class went into quarantine, and I was expected to teach remotely the next day. Even though I wasn’t severely affected by the illness, I could hardly recall what I taught that first day—if you’re healthy enough to click a mouse, you’re expected to teach.
5. Community and Collaboration
COVID precautions have isolated us, diminishing collaboration among teachers and students. With strict distancing measures, it’s nearly impossible to share resources or ideas, which has historically been vital for supporting our students. Our school schedule has changed to prevent overlap in common areas, further isolating me from colleagues who have been crucial for sharing strategies and support.
6. Financial Strain
Despite working harder than ever, my paycheck has decreased by roughly $200 monthly due to budget cuts stemming from the pandemic. As a low-income school district, we haven’t received raises, and a yearly stipend for additional professional development has been suspended. Health insurance premiums have risen, and my classroom budget was halved, forcing me to spend more out of pocket for necessary supplies.
7. Faith in Humanity
Initially, social media celebrated teachers as heroes in March 2020. However, by August, questioning safety in classrooms made us appear lazy and ungrateful. Now, everyone seems to have opinions about our teaching methods and how we handle mask mandates. The lack of understanding and support has intensified the strain on educators, ultimately affecting our students.
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In summary, the challenges faced by educators throughout this year have been profound, affecting our time, mental well-being, community support, finances, and even how we view our roles in society. It’s essential to acknowledge these losses and work towards fostering a more supportive environment for both teachers and students.