The halls feel quieter, parking spots sit empty, and many classrooms suddenly look a lot different now that the graduating class is gone. While most students focus on the excitement of seniors graduating, some teachers are left teaching classes with only a handful of students remaining or have no students to teach at all. For teachers whose schedules are filled mostly with seniors, the final weeks of the school year can bring an unusual change in the classroom atmosphere.
“I think it’s sad that they’re not here; it feels empty,” teacher Jennifer Allore said.
While the absence of students can make classrooms feel quieter, teachers often use the extra time to prepare for the future and catch up on tasks that are difficult to complete during the busy school year.
“I spend a lot of time getting caught up grading, and I’ve done some organizing, getting ready for next year,” teacher Linda Kammann said. “There’s plenty of stuff for me to do around here all day.”
Even when classes have as few as six underclassmen left, teachers say there isn’t a notable change.
“It’s really not that much different than if it was a full class,” Allore said. “I still need help to prep and clean materials; the students still do their work.”
The halls may feel quieter, and classrooms may look emptier, but for many teachers, not much else changes. Even after the seniors leave, the routines of teaching and preparing for the next school year don’t stop.
