Beyond the Bell - The Hidden Life of a High School Science Teacher

Science Outside
Oct 12
3 min read

Science teaching offers unique opportunities. It also provides unique challenges.

On the bright side, there’s a constant need for qualified science teachers. Because few people with science degrees go into education (and many who do don’t stay long), there are often job openings waiting for passionate science educators.

But once you're in the role, reality hits: science teaching is demanding in ways most people don’t realize.

Compared to teachers of subjects like math, English, or history, science teachers face extra layers of responsibility:

Maintaining lab spaces
Managing chemicals and equipment
Preparing and cleaning up experiments
Ensuring safety during hands-on labs

It’s incredibly rewarding, but far from easy. This job is not for the faint of heart. I have personally observed dozens of teachers who came from industry, taught science for a few years, and returned to industry. They came in thinking they would have summers off and work a 35-hour workweek.

The reality of the job turned out to be far more demanding and complex than they had ever expected. They each reported it was because the job required too many hours per week during the school year, the schedule is too inflexible, and they felt underpaid and under appreciated for their efforts. The first several years of science teaching can be brutal.

Science Classrooms Are Labs, Too

Unlike most classrooms, science rooms double as fully functioning laboratories. That means science teachers are also:

Lab technicians
Safety officers
Equipment managers
And, yes, custodians of sensitive (and expensive) gear

From microscopes and Bunsen burners to live specimens and chemical solutions, science teachers spend countless hours cleaning, repairing, organizing, and storing materials.

Safety procedures must be followed meticulously, and that kind of preparation doesn’t fit into a single prep period.

What You Don’t See Behind the Scenes

Each science subject brings its own unique demands:

Biology & Environmental Science: Teachers set up and maintain aquariums and terrariums, cycling tanks, selecting compatible species, and monitoring temperature, lighting, and water chemistry. There are also plants to take care of, and all of these living organisms mean weekends and summers are never truly free.
Chemistry: Teachers manage chemical safety, hygiene, storage, and proper waste disposal.
Physics: Teachers spend extra time setting up complex experiments and tutoring students in problem-solving.
Earth Science: Teachers prepare and clean rock, soil, and mineral samples for labs and field studies.

On top of all that, science teachers are constantly reading and learning to stay current in an ever-evolving field.

All this work often replaces grading and lesson planning time, forcing many science teachers to work an extra 10 hours a week at home.

Authentic Labs Require Unseen Effort

When students walk into a classroom with neatly labeled lab stations and clear instructions, what they don’t see is the teacher who stayed late the night before to:

Measure and test materials
Double-check safety protocols
Organize and label every component
Set up, and later, clean up, the entire space

Cleanup includes chemical disposal, sanitizing, and restocking materials. All this happens after the students have left for the day.

When you see a science teacher working late, it’s not because they’re inefficient, it’s because they’re committed to doing the job right.

Many of Us Pay Out of Pocket for the Privilege

Science teachers often spend their own money to provide the best learning experiences:

Buying cleaning supplies, paper towels, or gloves
Purchasing live plants, insects, or fish
Ordering extra materials for timely investigations

These purchases help avoid long procurement processes and reflect a deep personal investment in student learning.

So What Can You Do?

If You’re a Family Member:

Be patient when we work late.
Ask us about our lessons. It shows you care.
Understand why we sometimes spend our own money on our students.
Acknowledge the effort behind every lab, every lesson, and every late night.

If You’re a School Leader:

Adjust schedules to give science teachers more planning and prep time.
Provide resources and storage for hands-on materials.
Recognize the behind-the-scenes labor that makes safe, high-quality science education possible.