SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — In the fall of 2022, there were 3.2 million full-time public-school teachers in the United States, according to the latest numbers from the National Center for Education Statistics. But if you ever wondered what a teacher’s full day entails, 3News has the answer.
A news crew recently shadowed Jason Clemens, a teacher who has spent 16 years in the Shaker Heights School District, through his schedule.
“It is a long, grueling day, but in the end, I get to do amazing stuff with amazing kids,” Clemens tells 3News.
Clemens, whose teaching career spans 21 years, is a middle and high school band director who leads the marching band during the fall.
Cameras greeted Clemens at his home in Mentor just after 6:30 a.m. on a Friday. He was eating breakfast alone while his wife prepared for her day and their two daughters slept. The girls had the day off from school.
“Someone asked me one time, ‘if you weren't a band director, what would you be,’” Clemens reflects. “And I'll probably teach something else … I just love the whole idea of teaching kids, working with kids. It’s just really fun.”
Clemens leaves his home just before 7 a.m. and arrives at Shaker Heights High School nearly 40 minutes later.
The Painesville native, who graduated from Riverside High School, believes the biggest misunderstanding people have about teachers is not realizing the level of concern they have for their students.
“We care deeply for the students that are in our care,” Clemens adds. “I have hopes and dreams for these students that I hope they accomplish.”
3News continued to tag along as Clemens began his teaching schedule leading 260 high school marching band students through a morning outdoor practice.
The rehearsal for the group, known as “The Pride of Shaker Heights,” lasts from 8:20 to 9:50 a.m.
“This week alone I've worked 40 hours already before I showed up this morning,” Clemens explains, referring to participating in a booster meeting and school open house earlier in the week.
Clemens then has a break after the early morning rehearsal, a time he uses to respond to emails, arrange music, and travel nearly three miles to the middle school. Once there, he eats lunch, teaches 8th grade concert band, monitors two free periods, teaches 7th grade concert band, and then assists a colleague with 8th grade symphonic winds, which runs until about a quarter before 3 p.m.
On game days, Clemens’ hours are extended.
“The kids, the families, all of it, it will take a lot out of you if you let it,” Clemens says. “You can do this job 24 hours a day. And that's where I think we see a lot with the burnout that we see from teachers. They don't stop working.”
He says it is crucial for teachers to take care of themselves.
“I’m very careful throughout my day to spend energy when it’s really important,” Clemens shares. “{I} try to take the time that I have down time and really relax.”
The Heidelberg College graduate says he knew he was signing up for long hours when choosing to become a band director. He loves the job.
His career highlights are taking band students on five international tours in the Alps, Turkey, Spain, Italy and France. The program is even planning a sixth tour next year. But with all the accomplishments, there is something that causes him pain.
Shaker Heights Band International Trips
“The biggest insult that I have gotten as a teacher is ... ‘I'm not getting my money's worth out of you.’
And I think people don't realize how much that hurts,” he says. “I’m not going to see my own children today. They were in bed when I left, they’ll be in bed when I get home, but I saw 400 other kids.”
At the end of the day, which is literally 10:47 p.m. for Clemens, he says like any other human being, teachers make mistakes and would love to be shown mercy.
“Give us some grace. It’s a hard job,” Clemens adds. “We’re doing the best we can. We really do love your kids.”