Behind working parents, deployed military personnel, and police officers, teaching is the fourth highest stress-inducing occupation in the United States according to HowStuffWorks.com.

For teachers, the school day does not end at 2:10 p.m. Attending department meetings, creating lesson plans that satisfy testing standards, communicating with other faculty members, and grading student work and assessments all add to teachers’ tedious responsibilities.

Researchers think that extended hours and increasing demands of the job have worn out educators.

“Teachers are asked every year to do more and more and more and have more on their plates,” school social worker Sue Stemetzki said. “I don’t know how they do it.”

While adults, specifically teachers, have stress, the young adult group experiences more stress.

According to UCLA study researcher Adriana Galván, teens cannot cope with stress as well as adults because stress inhibits proper decision making, leading to risky behavior. Stemetzki attributes this to adults having had more stressful experiences that have prepared them to cope with stress.

“Having lived longer and learned a little bit more about themselves, adults become more insightful and are better to read stress before it becomes problematic,” Stemetzki said. “They can sense stress in their bodies so it triggers to them they need a break.”

Although experience and insight is an advantage, adults still can struggle with the demands of life or work. School psychologist Dr. Joshua Kefer believes that, like students, teachers need to maintain a balance between life and work in order to effectively manage stress.

“Like students, I tell teachers that work-life balance is important,” Kefer said. “Separate yourself from the work as much as you can. Take care of yourself and do the things you love in addition to what’s part of your job.”

Coping mechanisms vary among teachers. Some step away completely from activities and work to relax.

“I generally don’t let [stress] get to me, or change what I’m doing,” physics teacher Clyde Humphrey said. “I read, I play games, I hang out with friends, and I leave my work at work.”

Other teachers get moving to relieve stress, which according to a study conducted by Yale researchers, is proven to release stress by producing norepinephrine, associated with elevating one’s mood.

“I like to exercise,” security assistant Thomas Cook said. “I like to run, workout. That gives me a release of stress.”

Others look to outside sources, whether it is faith or family members.

“To be completely honest, I pray a lot,” English teacher Lisa Trigiano said. “Faith is very important to me, but I also try not to take things personally.”

“Spending time with family and being around people helps reduce stress for me, as opposed to be alone,” French teacher Sally Moran said.

While some stress for teachers stems from their demanding jobs, others use their work to alleviate the stress from home.

“I try to get involved with work, because my stress mainly comes from home,” Spanish teacher Marly Fullerton said. “I have elderly parents that live at home with me, and I take care of them, so work is kind of a therapy for me.”

Counselor Kari Olsen believes that relationships formed at work also serve as a good support system for teachers.

“Teachers have a couple other teachers in the building, maybe in their subject area, or maybe not,” Olsen said. “It just depends on the individual. But, teachers will have each other for support. We need that too.”

Just as school counseling services are available to students struggling with stress, FCPS offers wellness programs for teachers. The Employee Assistance Program serves to help teachers deal with problems, such as stress, that adversely affect their work performance and health.

Ultimately, students appreciate the work and effort teachers put in to their jobs.

“I feel sympathetic towards teachers,” senior Sara Hawes said. “I appreciate the fact that all of their work causes stress. They have to make entire lesson plans for multiple classes and grade papers every night. I could probably never do what they do successfully.”