Seven Types of Teachers Every School Has

And they all work their asses off

Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash

For many people, the school year is winding down. Last Friday was my last day with students, though we have some teacher workdays to make up for the snow days (yay!). This wraps up my eleventh year in education, and it is one of the hardest, but most rewarding jobs I've ever had. But I'm not going to make this about how hard the jobs for teachers are.

Instead, I want to talk about the types of teachers I have encountered in my years in education. These are stereotypes that I have met both as a student and as a teacher. There tend to be several "genres" of teachers that all bring something to the table.

In my career, I have been a few of these. As I continue in my journey as an educator, I will move into some of these other categories. If you are in education or are thinking of seeking a career in education, these are likely to be your co-workers.

1. The Lost Rookie

They just finished their education courses and have all the knowledge on how to be a teacher. They killed it as a student-teacher, and they are ready to tackle the world. They’re energetic and optimistic, and that energy radiates from them.

But then reality hits. That first lesson did not go as they planned; no classroom management course truly prepared them for an unruly classroom, and they forgot to save attendance twice, and the attendance clerk is pissed. But still, they put on a happy face and came in the next day.

I have been there before, and I tell my mentee teachers the same thing every time. "You are going to suck your first year. You are going to question everything you do, and there will be days when you want to quit. But if you learn from your mistakes and take constructive criticism, you will make it."

I was definitely one of the lost rookies my first year. My lessons never seemed to go right during evaluations, and my classroom management sucked. I have had several conversations with leadership during which I was sure I would either be terminated or resign.

However, I dug in my heels and kept trying to get better. One of the best feelings was, two years into my career, having the same admin who'd ripped into me tell me how proud she was of how I'd grown as a teacher. She is now one of my mentors and a go-to person for advice.

2. The Know-it-all Rookie

The opposite of the Lost Rookie, this one got straight A's in their education classes. They know the latest theory and want to point out how everyone is doing things wrong (even if the old systems work fine). Worst still, is if they totally disregard the school directives and do things "their way".

These teachers also tend to focus on building relationships rather than on content and discipline. That is the class students want to go to, because they can basically do what they want. By Spring Break, this teacher is losing their mind and not understanding why they can't get the class to listen to them.

In most cases, these are the teachers who don't last. The general rule is that if you can last three years (where most teachers get tenure), you will likely make teaching your career. These teachers are usually done within their first couple of years. And while they may say they are all about building relationships, the kids don't respect them, and their co-workers are annoyed by them.

3. Mid-Career Organizer

This person has most of their ducks in a row. They have their lesson plans ready for Day 1 to the last day. Their files are organized, and their spreadsheets are color-coded. By Friday, they will have next week's copies ready.

This person is usually a stickler for the rules. They are people-pleasers and always willing to help. They will usually be asked to mentor rookie teachers or to serve on committees. They might still struggle with some areas of their craft, like classroom management, but they still come in every day.

These tend to be some of the hardest-working people in the building. They are willing to roll with the changes as they come. Education is a passion, and they put in the hard work and willpower to get through each school year.

4. Mid-Career Chaos

Somehow, even though they have been doing the job for years, they still roll in twenty minutes before school starts to plan their day. While the organizer already has their copies done, this teacher is frantically trying to make their copies for the day with five minutes before the bell. Yet somehow, they still pull off great lessons and get the work done.

These teachers are often everyone's favorite. They might be described as a "kid at heart", which helps in this profession. The students love them, and they have a likable personality. Also, a people-pleaser, their personality allows for many to excuse their shortcomings.

5. Late-Career Model Teacher

This teacher is basically an admin without the pay raise. They have been at the school forever and are the most respected teachers in the building. These are the teachers who guide the future generation.

Even though these teachers are wrapping up their careers, they still have the energy and enthusiasm of their younger peers. Any problem that a newer teacher has faced, these teachers have been there/done that.

These are the teachers who are the glue that holds a school together in many cases. Newer teachers are encouraged to sit in on their classes to learn classroom management and create lessons. When they retire, they are the teachers who get the tearful farewells.

6. Late-Career Burnout

The opposite of the model teacher, these educators are just counting down to retirement. They have tenure and are confident they won't get fired as long as they don't do anything too egregious. The profession has now become just a paycheck.

This happens often, especially with the changes in how many view the teaching profession. These late-career burnouts were once passionate about their craft, but have now become disillusioned with changes in curricula, a focus on passing students even if they haven't earned it, and the changing world.

Their classroom management might still be there, but it is more focused on just keeping the students quiet and busy. They aren't going to volunteer for extra duty, and don't care about connecting with thier students.

I have worked with a few of these teachers before. And while there are some years when a teacher can feel burned out, we usually recover (it may require a change in school, content, or grade level). But as retirement draws closer, they sometimes will even use it as a threat. If they get upset with the admin or a co-worker, their go-to is to say, "I can retire tomorrow if I want."

At some point, these were great teachers and co-workers. They may have even been someone's go-to teacher for help. Now they are bitter, jaded, and unpleasant. The best thing for a new teacher to do is to minimize interaction with them, unless they want to hear the reasons they should quit.

7. Late-Career Autopilot

These teachers are similar to those experiencing burnout but remain effective. They aren't as cynical, but they are not the model teacher either. They have taught the same thing for years and have no plans on switching it up this late in the game.

These teachers also have the "don't mess with me" vibe. While they are not standoffish, they do not suffer fools. The worst thing you can do as a newer teacher is to try to give them advice or a directive. While they may be open to suggestions, they will often smile and nod, then go about their routine.

These teachers are also among the most popular. Their co-workers like them, and the students respect them. They have put in the time and mastered the "work smarter, not harder" way of teaching. These teachers have found a way to cruise through the final years of their careers while remaining effective in their jobs.

Conclusion

These are the main genres of teachers you encounter in every building. Some will make a career of teaching and become model teachers. Others will burn out or get fired within the first few years of thier careers. Still, those lucky ones will find the balance and make a decent living while shaping the minds for the future, weathering all the storms life might throw at them.