Biggest Challenges Faced By A Science Teacher At Education For Change
Christina's biggest challenge as a science teacher is the "imbalance of the amount of work and the amount of compensation," forcing creative solutions to meet student needs with insufficient funding and resources, impacting work-life balance. The demanding workload, coupled with inadequate pay, creates significant frustration despite the inherent joy found in the profession.
Compensation, Work-Life Balance, Resource Management, Problem-Solving, Overcoming Challenges
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Christina Craig
Science Teacher
Education for Change
UC Davis 2015
Loyola Marymount University - Masters in Urban Education
Psychology
Education, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Education
Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The demanding workload and insufficient compensation create a significant work-life balance challenge for teachers.
2. Lack of funding and resources hinders teachers' ability to effectively serve students with diverse needs, requiring creative problem-solving.
3. The rewarding aspects of the job are often overshadowed by the challenges related to workload, compensation, and resource limitations.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
The number one thing teachers talk about, and I agree, is the imbalance between the amount of work we do and the compensation we receive. We're asked to do a lot, but the money coming in isn't enough to do it all successfully.
This means we either have to spend our own money, which we can't afford, or give up our personal time. Many teachers can't do the latter because they have families to care for. The demands can be very heavy.
I'd say that's a huge challenge. If you find joy in teaching, that challenge feels a little less intense. But if you're struggling with work-life balance, aren't paid enough, and are overworking yourself, it becomes an incredibly big challenge.
Furthermore, there's a lot of demand on us. We're happy to meet those demands, but only if the funding and resources were there to do our jobs effectively and serve all students as they need to be served.
It's incredibly frustrating to see students who need certain services, like for their IEP or 504 plans, but there simply isn't enough funding to provide them. Having to get creative to ensure their needs are met is challenging and tricky.
It's a tough job, but I love it.
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