InClass

There’s no denying teachers have to push aside condescending comments about the profession (insert the cliché remark about having summers off). Thankfully, this infographic represents reality of what it means to be an Arizona educator — clearly the time commitment outweighs the extended vacation.

Somewhere between 27 hours of classroom instruction, over three hours of teacher meetings, nearly eight hours of grading, and much more, teachers are expected to have a life outside the classroom. If you’re sick of hearing your pay is more than fine for the amount of time you put forth, keep this graphic handy. Perhaps you take a screenshot on your phone, bookmark the page, or print the graphic to allow the numbers to speak for themselves.

Thanks to Tucson Values Teachers and Expect More Arizona, the statistics showcase exactly what teaching looks like in our state. While there’s a drastic teacher shortage in Arizona, it’s evident educators are making a difference because they’re putting in the time and effort to support student learning.

Whether you use the graphic above as ammunition or motivation to stay committed to your students, know that you have advocates to support you in even the most dire of professional circumstances.