Between growing class sizes, limited support staff, administrative burdens, and increasing behavioral challenges, the joy of teaching can often be overshadowed by burnout. Teachers enter the field to make a difference, but with these strains, they’re left wondering if they can truly reach the students who need them most.
If this experience seems all too familiar to you, we have good news. At Chaddock, we believe it shouldn’t be that way.
Traditional School Settings can Leave Teachers Burned Out
Natalie James is wrapping up her first year at Chaddock School. She came to us with prior teaching experience, but when the opportunity to teach at Chaddock came her way, she said it was hard to pass up.
After talking with friends who worked in Chaddock’s residential cottages, she heard all about the team dynamic, the work-life balance, and how staff are empowered to change students’ lives in meaningful ways.
“Where I was just putting a band-aid on a wound, at Chaddock I felt like I would have the opportunity to really help to change the trajectory of some of their lives,” said Natalie.
Meanwhile, Amy Voss has been part of our school for nearly 10 years. In previous public school roles, she shared how class sizes made it nearly impossible to fully meet her students’ needs.
“I had a special education classroom in the public setting and there was supposed to be a limit, but because of the need, more and more kids were placed in the room,” Amy said. “It was just really hard to drill down individually with the kids and do, you know, the activities and the lessons and make sure that they had mastered it.”
How Chaddock is Different
At Chaddock, our educators take a trauma-informed, relationship-based approach to teaching, supporting not just academic growth, but emotional and behavioral healing as well.
Every classroom has a guaranteed paraprofessional, and class sizes are intentionally small (8 students max). This structure gives teachers the ability to teach without constant disruption and the support needed to navigate difficult moments.
“I can actually just be the teacher. I don’t have to be everything else to the students,” Natalie shared. “We have instructional coaches, admins on our floor, and also behavior managers. So if things get out of control, usually somebody can step in so I can continue doing my job and teaching and those kids can regulate and then come back to learn… We can serve the whole person, the whole child, instead of just their brain.”
Amy agrees, sharing how smaller class sizes have allowed her students to shine:
“So many people write off kids that we serve, and they think you can’t ask them to do
anything, or you have to set a lower bar for achievement. I have not found
that to be the case at all… They want to learn. They want that experience. They want a
teacher who’s gonna come in and build with them and show them new and exciting
things.”
Career Fulfillment and Growth at Chaddock
In our school, we support teacher autonomy and flexibility. Our admin team and support staff are ready to help our teachers care for their students in new and innovative ways!
Amy shared, “If I want to try something new, and I run it by my supervisor, they’re like, “That’s a great idea. Let’s try that. What do you need to make that happen?” And that’s nine-tenths of everything that every teacher needs.”
Meanwhile, Natalie says Chaddock school supports a healthy work life balance. While other environments may expect teachers to spend hours outside of their contract hours to plan, prep, or grade, that’s not the case at Chaddock. Natalie said she can leave right when she is contracted to and doesn’t take work home.
“I want to be able to go to work and really care about what I do at work. And then I want to be able to go home and really care about what I do at home. And I think that’s something that I’ve been able to find here too,” said Natalie.
Encouragement for Teachers
If you’re an educator looking to reconnect with your purpose and make a difference, Chaddock School is the place for you.
“If you’re looking to change up how your career is going, a place where people can be understanding of all of the needs of a child instead of just trying to push them through. If you’re looking for a place that wants to take care of the child, then this is a place that you should work,” shared Natalie.
Amy added, “You can do what we do here in a class of 25 in public school or you can come here and do it with six to eight kids with paraprofessionals and behavioral support and administrative support and the support of your co-teachers. It’s a great place to be a teacher in my opinion.”
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We’re currently hiring Special Education Teachers for our Quincy and Carthage, IL locations. If you’d like an inside look at our school before applying, we’d love to talk with you. Call 217-222-0034 and speak with our school team to answer any questions you have or schedule a tour.
Plus, we’re offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus! Apply today!
