With summer coming to a close, and schools getting ready to resume the task of educating, it’s a good time to reset, reorganize, and rejuvenate. That means not only taking time to determine if your program’s current methods are helping or hurting staff, but also finding out what processes could be improved.

It’s common knowledge that teachers have a big job on their hands. They must educate while also keeping children safe. That responsibility extends to the after-school setting as well, and is especially true for teachers who work both during the day and at after-school programs. As more and more teachers continue to exit the profession in exchange for higher-paying jobs, it has become imperative to find new ways to relieve burdens on them in order to retain valuable talent. When creating a business plan for your after-school program, consider these factors to improve efficiency while alleviating burden on staff members.

Compensate teachers well

For teachers who are pulling “double duty” — teaching during the day and after school — burnout rates can be high. With very little time left for lesson planning and grading, these teachers may often find themselves up at all hours of the night trying to get everything done.

One way to ease this burden is to compensate these teachers well, as much as possible. By ensuring your teachers are being paid according to how hard they work, you’ll be less likely to lose them.

Leverage new technology

When many of us were in school, our teachers relied heavily on chalkboards and projectors. However, this is not the case today. Teachers have a wide range of new technology at their disposal (if their schools can afford it) to help them engage their students.

Many teachers choose to use tablets — for the students and themselves — to help with teaching and administrative tasks. For example, some after-school program software enables teachers to record attendance on a tablet; that information is immediately uploaded into the database for real-time attendance tracking.

There are other items, such as smart whiteboards, which can make lessons more engaging for students, while making life easier for teachers. Less time spent trying to procure the proper materials for a lesson equals more time spent on the lesson itself, and more time spent connecting with students.

Reduce their administrative duties

Teachers are kid experts, not data experts. Data management and other administrative duties can take up a lot of an educator’s time. Most teachers report feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of administrative tasks expected of them. After-school programs can benefit from the implementation of an after-school data management software, which allows them to take attendance via a tablet and track student information and progress more easily. This information is entered directly into the database, allowing after-school programs to easily record and track average daily attendance and more.

In addition to tracking daily attendance and student progress, a comprehensive data management software will also help program directors keep track of funding sources, offering them a broader view of program success and progress.

Allow teachers ample time for planning and rest

Many teachers report working upwards of 50 hours per week; for teachers who work in after school programs as well, this number is even higher. This includes teaching as well as lesson planning and grading. It’s important for teachers to have plenty of time to plan lessons, rest, and regroup between lessons whenever possible. Allowing teachers this downtime can help them remain fresh for every class. This also helps teachers create the most beneficial classes for students.

One way to divvy up work or classes is by rotating teachers’ schedules. This way, teachers can sign up for activities when they have time and don’t feel overwhelmed, ensuring teachers are well-rested and prepared for activities.

By following some of these helpful tips, your after-school program business plan can create an atmosphere where attendees will gain the greatest benefit, and teachers will be able to serve students to the best of their abilities.