Balancing a demanding career with one’s family is no easy task, and for teachers who are also parents, this is an especially difficult struggle. They must navigate the needs of their students during the day and their children at home in the evening. Despite the challenges, many teacher-parents find ways to make it work, often drawing on their unique skill sets to thrive in both roles.

For these faculty members, time management is crucial. A teacher’s day doesn’t end when the final school bell rings. At home, teacher-parents face the same parenting demands as anyone else but often with added pressure. Hours are spent grading papers, preparing lesson plans and even overseeing extracurricular activities. In the household, parenting comes with its own set of responsibilities, from helping with homework to attending school events and managing household chores.

Christina Palo is a History and Social Studies teacher at Madison. She has two young children at home and claims that balancing home life and work life are all based on which is more important at the moment.

“Sometimes there is more going on at home or at school, and you need to focus more there. It’s really about prioritizing what are the most important things to get done where and when,” Palo said. 

However, the transition from teacher to parent isn’t always smooth. Emotional energy plays a significant role. After spending hours in the classroom connecting with students, teacher-parents may feel drained when it comes time to engage with their own children. Despite this, many teacher-parents find that the bond with their children deepens through shared learning experiences. 

Melissa Walsh is a math teacher at Madison. She has three kids of her own, two of whom have graduated and one who is a current senior. Walsh believes that maintaining a more compassionate attitude towards her students allows her to bond with them and further their learning. “After becoming a parent, I’ve noticed that I have become more empathetic towards my students. I think seeing them as someone’s child instead of seeing them as just students who need to do math problems.” Walsh said.

In the classroom, teacher-parents are expected to meet the high expectations of their profession. They’re responsible for educating, mentoring and supporting hundreds of students every day. For teacher-parents, finding time for these responsibilities often means sacrificing their personal time. Still, the demands of teaching can spill into family life. Teacher-parents must carefully manage their schedules to avoid letting work overwhelm their home time. Setting boundaries, like turning off email notifications in the evening or committing to a cutoff time for grading, helps them focus on their families. Additionally, teacher-parents often rely on support from colleagues and administrators who understand the dual pressures they face. 

“One recommendation I would give to new teacher-parents would be to find a village. By which I mean, get help from wherever you can. Remember that there are people at school you can reach out to for advice, and second opinions. I believe it really lowers the initial stress of the new change.” Palo said