Liz Britt

Teachers are expected to: • Arrive before everyone else • Teach all day • Manage 30+ different personalities in every class • Differentiate lessons for every learning level • Keep students engaged • Handle behavior issues • Answer parent emails • Attend endless meetings • Grade mountains of assignments • Track data and update online systems • Complete paperwork • Plan tomorrow’s lessons • Support struggling students • Challenge advanced students • Cover for absent staff • Supervise lunch, hallways, and dismissal • Adapt to every new initiative that comes along And after all that, they're somehow expected to go home with enough energy to be a parent, partner, friend, or simply a functioning human being. People talk about teacher shortages, burnout, and declining morale as if they're mysteries. They're not. You can't keep adding responsibilities to a job that's already overflowing and then act surprised when people reach their limit. The real question isn't why teachers are burning out. It's why anyone expects them not to.