Ask any teacher, and they’ll say the same thing. Teaching isn’t the only thing that counts nowadays. Lesson planning, grading, staff meetings, emails, paperwork… it adds up fast. For many, the actual time spent with students is just one piece of the day. That’s where good school leadership makes all the difference. When administration takes the lead on reducing unnecessary stress, teachers can focus more on what they’re there to do – teach. And that’s better for everyone involved, especially the students. The good news? Academic administrations don’t need to make huge changes to make a teacher’s job easier. Even a few small changes in how the administration handles the tasks can bring a huge change. Let’s walk through a few smart, practical ways school admins can step in and help out.
- Cut Back on Redundant Paperwork
Most teachers aren’t overwhelmed because they’re teaching too much. It’s everything else. Forms, reports, attendance logs, weekly updates, marking – and often, the same info is entered more than once, just in different formats. One of the easiest ways for the admin to help is to take a look at all the paperwork teachers are expected to handle. If something doesn’t serve a clear purpose, it can probably go. If it needs to stay, can it be automated? Even something simple like switching from paper to digital forms can save a few hours each week. It’s not about removing all the structure. It’s about removing stuff that doesn’t directly support teaching or learning. Give teachers back their valuable time, so they can use it better by planning more valuable lessons and giving more feedback.
- Make Sure Teachers Have the Right Tools
Sometimes it’s not about working harder – it’s about not having to. The right tools can make a huge difference in a teacher’s day. Less clicking around, fewer hours spent grading, and way more time for things that actually matter. A lot of schools already use basic systems for grades and attendance, but there’s more out there that can help. Something simple like a tool that sorts assignments or sends reminders can clear up a lot of mental space. For courses that have coding, using a code plagiarism checker will help teachers catch copied answers. It’s faster, more accurate, and frees up time for feedback that students can actually use. Schools can utilize lms integration to lighten the workload and save time on administrative tasks.
- Respect Time Outside the Classroom
A lot of teachers don’t stop working when the school day ends. They bring study collateral home, answer emails at night, and squeeze in lesson planning on weekends. It’s just kind of expected, but that doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. Admins can help by setting better boundaries around time. Maybe hold off on sending late-night messages unless it’s something urgent. Or clarify that teachers don’t need to reply outside their working hours. Next, show some consideration when setting timetables. Don’t stuff every break with meetings or some other tasks. Those small periods are often the only chance teachers get to catch their breath or prep for the next class. None of this needs to be a big shift. Just a few small things to let teachers feel like their time matters – even when they’re not standing at the front of a room.
- Support Work-Life Balance
Ever since the pandemic hit, teaching has become one of those professions where managing a healthy work-life balance has become a nightmare. Teachers were teaching from home or any place where they were quarantined. Most other professions got an undefined time off, which allowed them to rest and focus on their health. Unfortunately, teachers were never “off the clock”. As an academic administration, you need to praise the selfless nature of teachers and ensure they don’t need to adhere to it. Divide workload by promoting more teaching assistants and making it a part of policy that teachers shouldn’t be emailed after school hours.
- Communication Is Key
Much like any other relationship, communication is the key to maintaining a healthy dynamic between teachers and administration. If you see the teachers struggling to keep up with the course load, implementing the curriculum requirements, talk to them. Ensure they know that academic administration is there to help them succeed as their teachers. Ask them what they need and provide them with that support so they continue teaching effectively.
Final Words
There’s no magic fix for a heavy teacher workload, but there are real ways to make it lighter. Most of them aren’t huge changes – they’re just about paying attention to what teachers need and removing the stuff that gets in the way. Give them tools that save time. Cut down on tasks that don’t lead anywhere. And above all, treat their time like it matters – because it does. When teachers aren’t drowning in extras, they show up better for their students. And that’s the whole point.
