Teachers are constantly taking on new responsibilities, according to an Education Week article. A typical teacher works about 54 hours a week, with just under half of that time devoted to directly teaching students, according to 2022 data from the EdWeek Research Center.
Education Week asked educators in an informal LinkedIn poll to describe those new responsibilities:
59% of respondents said mental health support.
Students’ mental well-being has been a top policy priority in recent years, as young people struggle with record-high rates of depression and anxiety.
This has led to “increasing numbers of students exhibiting severe behavior disorders requiring intensive intervention and data tracking,” says Lisa M. in a comment on the LinkedIn poll.
Recent EdWeek Research Center polls found an increasing number of educators who reported worsening student behaviors, ranging from minor classroom disruptions to more serious student fights broadcast on social media
26% said heavy data tracking.
Student data—including test scores, attendance records, or classroom observation notes—can inform instruction and help target students who might be falling behind and need intervention. But teachers say the focus on collecting and analyzing data has also added a lot more work to their plates.
12% said tech troubleshooting.
Teachers do more tech troubleshooting now that most students have digital learning devices. Most schools provide each student with a laptop or tablet for instructional use. For many teachers, this has meant adding tech support to other responsibilities.
“Tech troubleshooting isn’t really ‘extra’ anymore,” says Miste M. in a comment on the poll. “It quietly eats into planning time, instruction, and recovery time. The real cost isn’t the tech, it’s the interruption.”
Education Week
