On Time

Time and energy are, arguably, the most valuable currencies in our lives. For teachers, these are also the two resources that can be most difficult to create and conserve. In addition to requiring educators to be engaged, energetic, and “on” during school hours, teaching generates a significant amount of additional work that is often relegated to the hours before and after the school day, or to nights and weekends. A teacher’s workweek can also make it difficult to schedule appointments and run errands that must happen during regular business hours, as being absent during a school day necessitates hiring a qualified substitute. Taken together, it’s not surprising that teachers are at especially high risk for mental health challenges, compassion fatigue, and burnout.

Time Valued Schedule Pilot

In recognition of these challenges, I’m excited to announce that in September 2023 we’ll be launching a pilot program called the Time Valued Schedule for our faculty. Based on a system drawn from the corporate sector and adapted for independent schools by the Hillel Academy Master Scheduling Team in Tampa, Florida, the Time Valued Schedule will exempt one of our five faculty members each Friday from student-facing tasks. This means that each of our faculty members will have a paid student-free day once every five weeks to work on campus or at home.

How it Works

The Time Valued Schedule won’t affect school hours or alter students’ schedules—all classes and activities will continue normally. On Fridays, when students gather in larger groups to play games related to specific subject areas (like “Tensies” for math or Cahoots for English) or leave campus for Adventure Friday field trips, four of our faculty members will oversee activities, allowing the fifth faculty member to take his or her designated day.

Our teachers can use these Fridays to lesson plan, grade, answer emails, pursue professional development opportunities, or complete continuing education requirements to maintain their certification. They are also welcome to schedule appointments, shop for classroom supplies, or use this time in other ways that support their work/life balance, as long as any non-school-related hours are made up over the weekend.

Supporting Teachers In and Out of the Classroom

By implementing the Time Valued Schedule, we can help alleviate a key pressure point, actively work to prevent burnout, and support overall well-being. Solutions like this one also help us to be as competitive as possible in attracting and retaining talented faculty. While it’s difficult for a school our size to compete with public school salaries, we’re able to be flexible in ways that other schools can’t be. By recognizing teacher’s needs both in and out of the classroom, we can respond with tangible, meaningful forms of compensation in addition to base salary.

Living Our Values

Ultimately, the Time Valued Schedule pilot is one way that we’re seeking to uphold our values across Orchard Friends. Everything that happens in our classrooms begins with faculty who are engaged and excited to come to work, who share that energy with our school as a whole and with our students most of all. We want everyone at our school to feel recognized and celebrated for who they are, surrounded and supported in the ways they need to be, and above all, as healthy and happy in as many areas of their lives as possible. A huge thank-you to our faculty members for everything you contribute, both during and outside of school hours. We see all that you do, and we’re so grateful. Thank you for sharing your time, talents, and gifts with all of us at Orchard Friends.