‘Everybody deserves their own classroom’
Tensions high among floating teachers
Floating teachers here to stay – Principal Michael McDonough explains that there will always be around 15-20 floating teachers at Bellaire. Previously there were around 10 floating teachers, but that number has increased due to less classrooms in the new building.
The bell rings and Bean Burr, science teacher, scrambles to collect his papers and laptop to bring to his next classroom. Burr is one of 25 floating teachers which means he doesn’t have his own room and, according to Burr, this has pushed him to the limit.
“It’s incredibly detrimental to my students, and it wears me out,” Burr said. “ I want to be able to do my best job for my students, and part of that is being organized and doing labs.”
Floating teachers don’t have their own classrooms and instead switch between different rooms every day. Bellaire had eight floaters in the old building but that number has now more than doubled.
“We have fewer classrooms than we had in the old building,” principal Michael McDonough said, “but now we have some larger shared spaces.”
As one of these floating teachers, Burr teaches in five different rooms every day. He often scrambles from room to room moving lab equipment, at times being forced to leave his students unsupervised in order to get equipment.
”Nobody wants to float. It’s hard work,” Burr said. “Everybody deserves their own classroom.”
Burr is not the only one that feels frustrated teaching in multiple classrooms. Ann Linsley, 30+ year IB Coordinator and AP Humans Geography teacher, switches between two classrooms and a cubicle every day.
“I am absolutely unorganized,” Linsley said. “I cannot teach out of a backpack.”
Without a classroom of her own, Linsley said she struggles with storing all her teaching materials. She has to move her supplies into a storage locker that she pays for out of pocket.
“It’s not ideal. I think everybody would love to have their own classroom,” says Principal Michael McDonough.
While some teachers have openly voiced their frustrations about floating, McDonough said that Bellaire will always have 15-20 floating teachers, but explains that there is a thought process behind it.
“…we did it with seniority, so two brand new [teachers] that we hired will float their first year here on campus,” says McDonough.
A big factor in deciding who will float is seniority. First-year and newer teachers float, along with coaches or teachers with not as many classes.
“It’s the people that have been here the longest that don’t have to float, even if they only have 100 kids,” Burr said. “Whereas I have 150 students to serve [but] I still have to float.” He said he doesn’t agree with this method of deciding who should have their own classroom.
AP Language and Academic English 3 teacher Jennifer Blessington has been at Bellaire for six years and teaches in her own classroom, although she does have someone float into her room during fourth period.
“I try to be really welcoming to the floaters because I’ve had to float before and I know that it can be very discombobulating,” Blessington said. “It’s not all negative though, it has some positives, it gets you out of your own little room.”
Blessington and new science teacher Lizabeth Richter became friends after seeing each other in the halls because they both leave their rooms during fourth period.
“I was under the impression that the new building would house almost all teachers with a room,” said Spanish teacher Freddy Davalos. “[That] wasn’t the case.”
According to Davalos, having to float is stretching some teachers’ limits.
“[Bellaire] was built on academics, yet it seems like in all of this, the academics are what is taking a hit,” Linsley said. “A building is not an education.”
Burr said floating has become too much for him to bear, and plans to leave Bellaire next year.
“I’m not happy with it,” Burr said. “I’m going to transfer to somewhere that has enough rooms for their teachers.”
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Veer • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:54 pm
It’s sad that teachers have to float between classrooms. I can only imagine the trouble of having to set up your class between periods and ensuring that the class is set up before the majority of the students show up can be stressful and exhausting. Considering that each teacher was promised their own room and now they have more floating teachers than the old building is absurd to me. I think that the teachers should be vocal about it because something should be done to try and fix the problem or at least create a temporary solution until the rest of the building is complete.
Veer • Dec 8, 2021 at 9:36 pm
I definitely understand how having your own classroom can encourage for a better learning environment. With your own classroom everything is set up and you just walk in. When you have to float across you have to “teach out of a backpack” and can restrict your teaching. Having to plan out what to bring and to ensure that you’re able to set up your class room can take time out of teaching, even with important AP classes. However, I also think that it gives you a better connection of the students and how we have to move from class to class which can be relatable and can increase socialization. I often see teachers moving through out the hallways even covering for others which creates a better connection between teachers, but it shouldn’t have to happen out of a common problem. However the benefits of having your own classroom, especially since teachers were promised individual classrooms, simply outweighs having to float from class to class.
Khang • Dec 8, 2021 at 12:00 pm
I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to maneuver throughout the building as a teacher. Floating across classrooms leaves teachers unorganized and unprepared in an unfamiliar classroom. They are essentially forced “teach out of a backpack,” said Ms. Linsley, voicing her frustrations. Being constrained by time and storage exaberates the problem further. I personally view floating as a consquence of limited teaching space. It may have some benefits, such as increased socialization, but generally has negative conntations amongst teachers. With the new building coming on its way, the difficultues of floating may be alleviated.
Kate • Dec 8, 2021 at 11:53 am
As a student with multiple teachers that float, I completely agree. I think that my teachers deserve to have their own classroom to set up decorations and desks in ways that they would like. Not only is this source of stress for teachers, but it can also be harmful to the students. I think that it is kind of disappointing how we have a large, nice, brand-new building, but not enough classrooms for all of Bellaire’s students and teachers. When teachers change classrooms all day, it can make it harder for them to have enough time to set up before class starts, which consequently cuts down on how long they can teach us each period.
Caitlin R • Dec 8, 2021 at 10:01 am
As a student with 2 floating teachers, this really helped me understand how everyday is difficult for them. When the bell rings to signal the end of class, my teachers constantly rush to get their supplies, and head out the door to make it to their next class. It’s a hassle for both students and teachers as it shortens the line of communication, and makes it harder to pinpoint where your teachers are if you need assistance. I completely agree every teacher should have their own classroom, especially when most have to keep up with over a hundred kids, total.
Annie Greenhill • Nov 17, 2021 at 10:27 pm
I just wanted to applaud the photographer for the first picture of Mr. McDonough. It is a great shot! The story is also very well written.
Stephanie Wen • Nov 13, 2021 at 8:27 am
Thank you for covering this. Such a stressor to teachers who want and need to be responsive to students. Will all teachers have rooms once the new building is completed? Everyone needs a workspace at least where they can be undisturbed and plan effectively.
Jerymie Senfulu • Nov 9, 2021 at 2:30 pm
Everbody deserves a classroom. i agree. idk why they have floating teachers
Isabella • Oct 20, 2021 at 12:38 pm
Such an insightful story. Really captured my interest and m showed the inequalities in the school. I can’t believe a good teacher such as mr. Burr has to go through that. I hope he stays and things get better!
Shamika Blackwell • Oct 20, 2021 at 9:56 am
This was an amazing story! Thanks for sharing! I can’t believe my kids have to deal with this everyday… The teachers’ perspectives were interesting innovated!
Gabby • Oct 19, 2021 at 8:36 am
So sad, we need to keep educators well kept. People ask why educators leave …for this reason and so many more. Schools need to find solutions to keep educators. Thank for the article…I would never find out as a parent.