October 23, 2025
The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Teacher
By Nic Wong
By Sanaii Coke
Keenya Coke has been an educator for 16 years. She has taught elementary school, adopted the role of coaching teachers, joined a networking organization for educational leaders and is currently an assistant principal at Excel Lower Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. Being a teacher requires many different skills and demands many different tasks. The Department of Education creates the regulations, restrictions, controls funding and oversees much of the work that goes on behind the scenes and beyond the classroom. Teachers are expected to follow these guidelines and regulations no matter how difficult or unrealistic they may seem.
Keenya expressed that during her time teaching in elementary schools, teachers were required to make a big shift regarding literary instruction. Before this shift, schools would focus more on phonics as the foundation of literature but it was shifted for teachers to take a more holistic approach. This significantly negatively impacted the literacy rates in the schools that Keenya worked in, and because of the strict guidelines teachers received, they were forced to go along with it anyway. According to edtrust.org, “Last year, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), “the nation’s report card,” showed that not even half (43%) of fourth graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient level in reading.” nationsreportcard.gov stated that only “Thirty-three percent of fourth-graders are at or above NAEP Proficient in reading, lower compared to 2019.” This study took place in 2022. Keenya expressed that she didn’t agree with this shift but she wasn’t able to effectively voice her concerns and it resulted in chaos in literacy rates.
The funding that public schools also receive in comparison to private schools Coke expressed that it, “Makes it a less equitable experience for children.” Children in public schools are at an obvious disadvantage when it comes to the materials they receive and the quality of education. “I’ve been in schools where I’ve had to create all of my materials.” She expresses how at times all she received was the standards for the school year and she would have to create all of the lesson plans, unit plans, and assessments herself.
Gabrielle Domond, who has been teaching kindergarten and first grade for six years, expressed how demanding it is to be a teacher. She has heard the biggest misconception about teaching is that it consists of only standing in front of the class and delivering a lesson plan. “We are actually wearing so many hats with cheerleaders, problem solvers, planners, nurses, counselors and so much more”
Teachers are tasked with doing the seemingly impossible every year and still are able to get through the curriculum. Keenya expressed that as an elementary school teacher she was tasked with teaching multiple different subjects. She had to create these lessons and internalize them to accurately teach the next day so she was prepared for her students. She would often spend breaks, weekends and her evenings trying to make sure that she knew the lesson that she was going to teach well and it was effective.
Teachers have to deal with more than behavior issues from students, parents also give teachers a hard time when they’re trying to communicate with them about their student. Keenya stated how it was hard for some adults to take accountability for their students which makes it difficult for teachers. “Parents would often blame the teacher rather than taking responsibility.”
