According to a 2024 Pew Research study, 84% of teachers say they don’t have enough time during their regular work hours to do tasks like grading, lesson planning, paperwork and answering emails.
The workload for teachers involves hours of grading, but it can also present daily social-emotional challenges, which can increase the overall stress level in schools across the nation. South’s staff are no exception, and some have shared what they see and offer ways to balance their lives with student needs.
Bryant Williams, English 1 teacher, expresses how one of the difficulties in teaching revolves around keeping students motivated and off their phones, though those are not the only obstacles.
“Being a teacher can definitely be stressful at times, especially when balancing lesson planning, grading, and supporting students. However, it’s also incredibly rewarding, and the positive moments far outweigh the challenges,” said Willams
Biology teacher Bridgette Iwanski spends about 30 hours a week dedicated to planning out lessons, grading, responding to students and parents calls, and finding future activities. Iwanski has to juggle her full time job while providing her two children with undivided attention at home. She is most affected by the hardships students face on a daily basis.
“[The] hardest thing about teaching is not being able to attend to [the] every need of a student. It breaks my heart when a student is hungry (I try to keep snacks on hand) or is having a rough day because things are tough at home. I can’t fix their problems outside of the classroom and that hurts. I can provide resources and make their school days more enjoyable, but I can’t help fix everything,” said Iwanski.
Outside of managing students’ behavior, grading assignments, and planning daily lessons, teachers and staff members are tasked with various curricular requirements from the district, including meetings throughout the day and after school.
The National Library of Medicine in 2022 conducted a study in which two-thirds of teachers perceived stress due to the curriculum work at least 50% of the time. Four studies from The National Library of Medicine show 40% of teachers reported burnout due to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. While teachers are statistically stressed out by school, many teachers in the building find ways to manage this stress.
“On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being super stressful, I say [my stress level is] a 6. Once you have classroom management down and the ability to “go with the flow” when your plans don’t always go the way you want, you realize it’s going to be okay,” Iwanski said.
An educational article released in the UK last year titled “Work-Life Balance in Teaching” revealed the number one suggestion for teachers who experience high levels of stress or burnout throughout the school day is to do their best to make more time for themselves at home. Some South teachers said they release stress through gardening, hanging out with family, and working 0ut.
Benjamin DeLange does Freelance research for baseball podcasts dealing with sabermetrics and MLB player analysis on his off time away from school. Williams keeps his loved ones close.
“I enjoy unwinding by working out and hanging out with friends. These activities help me recharge and maintain a good work-life balance. Teaching is a challenging but deeply fulfilling profession. It’s amazing to see the impact you can have on students’ lives and to watch them grow over time,” said Willams.

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