Teacher Responses

10 hours per week (Mostly grading ... so some weeks are more than others, but 10 is an average).

Roughly 20-30 hours a week outside the 8-3:30 hours prepping and/or grading (depending on what I need to get done)

15-20 hours a week

14 hours/week

Avg. 0-2 hours a week for prep but several hours when an exam is given.

5 hours/week

15-20 hours a week

4-5 hours a day

2 hours a week

It really varies based on years 1-3 vs 4-6 as well as other coaching/advising/volunteer things. But as with most teachers, consistently more like 60+ hours a week rather than just 40

My typical hours in the classroom are 7am - 7 pm weekdays, plus another 8 hours on the weekend. So 25 hrs a week outside pay hours.

1.5 hours (before school only)

I'm not aware of what the resources are. I've heard rumblings about offered therapy, but I don't know the details.

I honestly don't know what resources are available.

I believe we have 6 free sessions for therapy each year

Referrals to counseling services

therapy is partially covered by our insurance

I have spoken to the school advocate

EAP, Talking the School's Counselors after school too.

Therapy and counseling is available. I use resources available to me through my medical plan plus private resources.

Insurance pays for counseling sessions for self and family. "Personal Days" (paid days off with a sub for a long weekend or day to catch up).

Actually I don't know. I never tried them. Taking time out of your schedule to look up something extra like that seems like one more thing to do.

Lack of time outside the school day, plus the copays for therapists outside the healthcare network, discourage many teachers from seeking or continuing with mental health supports.

I am happy that I have someone to speak to if needed

In general, for most jobs, it's very difficult to get adequate mental health support/services. Kaiser in particular makes it very difficult to get consistent mental health access. Once again many of these issues are institutional, the district can make some things better definitely but the roots of the problem are far higher up.

Reduce the amount of extra work that takes away from time directly related to planning for and grading for our classes. For example, Professional Development sessions that require us to leave class and write up plans for a sub. Spreading out which teachers have to spend lots of time in meetings during the school day or during lunch (some teachers attend WAY more than others). I think that anything they can do to give us time during the work day to do the planning and grading that is required for our courses, the more time we'll have on weekends and in the evenings to rest and rejuvenate.

I think that building in more time for collaboration (maybe going back to the distance learning schedule with 4 days of instruction and 1 day for check-in and collaboration) would be helpful so that we could spend more of our time during work hours to get our prep done. I also think that it might be helpful for admin to encourage the regular usage of mental health days for staff and students.

I think the school does an excellent job actually. I usually tend to bring stress upon myself by taking on too much or over committing myself. I always push myself beyond my limit because I love working with students. Possibly the school can provide support with having subs for activities like coaching or advising clubs.

No idea

More off-days or less meetings/advisory lessons.

Provide messaging that it is okay to be human and take breaks. You don't need to be constantly working to do a good job.

fewer meetings

Smaller class sizes and more prep/grading time built into the schedule.

Unknown

Having a dedicated counselor for school staff could help or else more longer term subsidized services, EAP's 4 sessions free is better than nothing but still very daunting to begin as sessions after 4 could be $150+/hr

"My mental health is largely driven by my students' mental health. This year - more than any previous years - students are struggling more and their episodes of anxiety and depression are more frequent and more intense. It is impossible for me to leave those emotions at school and not take them home.

The support system we have at school is excellent. Our therapists, assistant principals, counselors, and psychiatrists do a tremendous job supporting our students. And there are times when I speak with them about one of my students when, frankly, I benefit as much from the discussion as my students do.

It is a tremendous relief for me when my students have an opportunity to meet with our therapists Mr. Hickey and Ms. Salin. But we have 2000+ students and there are only the two of them. As a student, try to make an appointment with them! They both work very hard and long hours but it is likely you will only be able to see them every two weeks starting in a week or two.

So we need more Hickey's and Salin's. And more Olson's, Phares's, and Emmert's.

Bring in someone to give 5 minute massages in the staff room (so we can pop in during a prep period). Continue occasional coffee trucks and staff lunches. Add some fun and jokes and teacher connection activities during staff meetings. Ramp up the "thank you" and "I appreciate you" comments by other staff members, admin, students and parents, they really make a difference.

Actively participate and be joyful in class!

Not trying to use phones during class except for specified times. Generally staying on task is what teachers like to see.

express gratitude, patience; help us laugh :)

Active participation and engagement, less time on screens/phones, clear communication and self-advocacy/management, acts of kindness/positive interactions between students.

I would like to see the student body switch from external motivation to learn (grades, good letters of rec, etc…) to an internal motivation to learn (learning just because it is the right thing to do).

I don't think it's necessarily students' responsibility to make the environment more positive for teachers, the situation is ultimately a systemic issue and lack of funding. 36 kids a class or 170 students per teacher is simply not a recipe for balance/meaning/success in my opinion.

My students are amazing! Caring, supportive, funny, delightful. There is nothing more I could hope or wish for them doing to make my classroom more joyful every day.

Being helpful, engaging in small talk, sharing something great that is going on with them, not leaving supplies and trash on the desk at the end of class (respecting classroom materials), saying Hi in the hallway.