Teacher Summer Jobs

Good Day!

We are here, and it is summer! Well, officially, summer starts June 20, but most teachers are more than likely done with the school year. Some teachers are on a well-deserved vacation. Others stay at home and do a little late spring cleaning. And let’s face it, some teachers are probably trying to get ahead with lesson planning. We can’t blame you, but be sure to take time for yourself if you are one of those teachers. We all need a brain break to recharge, so take your well-deserved time off!

Or maybe you need something to do, like, start a newsletter 😅

Summer would be the ideal time to get those juices flowing, so if you have the urge to finally sit down to start that newsletter you’ve been thinking about, go for it. If you want to give it a shot, give it a try here on Beehiiv, which is the platform I use. It is definitely one of the better platforms I have used so far. (And yes, if you use my affiliate link, I do get a kickback 😉)

Cheers ☕

Second Jobs

GGrowing up in a small town, it was normal to see your teachers outside of the school campus, but it was still a little strange to see your English teacher working at the local Harkins Theatre, taking your money as you bought a movie ticket.

“Hey, Mr. Connelly!” You would yell out as you walked up to pay for your ticket. As you get older, you begin to realize(as much as you thought it was cool seeing your teacher working the ticket counter) that he probably did it out of necessity. Looking back at that experience, he probably did not want to be there, but he had to be there.

It is no secret that teachers are underpaid compared to their counterparts and take a second job. Sometimes, a third job is necessary. In a 2021 survey of 1200 teachers, 82% stated they are or have taken multiple jobs in the past, with 1 in 4 saying that they work another job during the school year. That second job is more often than not related to education.

Regarding the general U.S. population, around 5% of Americans take on a second job. According to one online survey from Insurank, 9 out of 10 Americans have a second job or side hustle to try and make up the shortfall for the funds they need to get by on a month-to-month basis. It's safe to say that we probably know someone working more than one job, and that person might also be you.

Okay, this is a little depressing, so let's segue into what jobs teachers do that are somewhat fun over the summer. Well, what better place to see what teachers are doing than to go to the r'/teachers subreddit?

According to one subreddit user, this is what they do over the summer:

Summer Camp always sounds like fun. Of course, growing up a 90s kid, summer camp was shaped in our minds thanks to Nickelodeon’s Salute Your Shorts with a little mix of Wild and Crazy Kids.

And then, there's always that one teacher who seems to have a special bond with their wine, am I right?

This one is a classic, and I’m sure a good percentage of teachers here used to work at their local small-town restaurant or even big chains like Chili’s or Applebee’s. There is something comforting and nostalgic about working here for the summer, no?

The original Reddit post was posted about five months ago, so feel free to check it out here —> Original Reddit Post.

Teaching is one of those professions where teachers can do something different during the summer if they want to. Unfortunately, however, when a teacher works a summer job, it is more of a need than a want. Many teachers don’t have the summer off, as most people believe. If a teacher is not working a second job in the summer, they are planning for the next school year.

Or both.

As we have emphasized before and will continue to do so, it's crucial for teachers to prioritize self-care. Taking a few moments to appreciate the little things and enjoy personal time can be rejuvenating and beneficial for both mental and physical well-being.

A short road trip to Sedona.

A day out on Venice Beach.

A family trip to Yosemite.

Talk a couple of hours to walk the boardwalk on Coney Island.

A couple of nights in Las Vegas without the kids because why not?

Consider setting aside a whole day just for yourself, where you can do absolutely nothing. Yes, literally nothing. This time is not a luxury, but a necessity. You’ve earned it, and it's important for your well-being.

Closing Bell - School is closed for this weekend.

On this day in 2013…

Edward Snowden reveals himself to be the person that leaked the million plus NSA document to the world via The Guardian. Snowden is currently living in Russia where he has been for the past decade.