“It’s a shame that you have to move further away from students to receive more pay. This is why the best teachers leave the classroom.”
— Kaitlyn Barton, English teacher at Clarksdale High School.
Click through the photos below and follow Barton as she navigates through her day of teaching, working a second job and, finally, making it home to prepare for her next day in the classroom.
Kaitlyn Barton discusses the graphic novel “Maus” with her English class at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
An inspirational message is placed on Kaitlyn Barton’s desk during her English class Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton holds a discussion with her high school English class about the graphic novel “Maus” at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton talks with her students near the end of the school day in her English class at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton has a conversation about football with students during lunch at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton and fellow teacher Harley Wolfe work through at team building exercise while at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton, left, and her English class analyze the graphic novel “Maus” at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton prepares for a staff meeting at Clarksdale High School Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton says goodbye to her students at the end of the school day Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton takes her dog, Olive, out of her apartment and watches as she runs around before getting dressed and prepared to work her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton gets dressed for her second job as a waitress at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton checks for her purse before heading out to her second job as a waitress at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton walks to her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton writes down orders while waiting a table of young students at her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018. At that point, she worked both a waitress job and her full-time teaching job to make ends meet.
Teach For America teacher Arnelle Williams, left, stops in Yazoo Pass to speak to fellow teacher Kaitlyn Barton at her second job in downtown Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton takes a group photo of students during a birthday celebration at the Yazoo Pass, Barton’ second job, in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton double checks an order while working her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton shares a laugh with her coworker Peggy Lloyd at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton takes a short break during her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton busses a table at Yazoo Pass near the end of her shift Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton takes a coffee break for more energy to push through her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton does closing tasks at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton serves Yazoo Pass owners Tim and Meri Tennett in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton puts on her jacket as she prepares to leave her second job for home Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton bids her coworkers goodnight after her shift at Yazoo Pass Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
After working two jobs, Kaitlyn Barton takes a break before creating a lesson plan for her English class Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton washes dishes while at home after finishing her shift at her part-time job. Barton works two jobs to make ends meet due to her low teacher’s salary.
Kaitlyn Barton pets her dog, Olive, after a long day of working two jobs Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton yawns as she works on a lesson plan for her high school English class that she teaches during the day Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Barton works a second job at Yazoo Pass to make ends meet due to her low salary as a full-time teacher.
Kaitlyn Barton shares a laugh with her roommate, Margaret Sumney, as she works on her lesson plan for her high school English class Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton, left, finishes a day’s work while her friend, Joe Greenberg, center, and roommate, Margaret Sumney, watch television while at home in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton rests on her sofa with her dog, Olive, after teaching at Clarksdale High school and working her part-time job at Yazoo Pass Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton takes her dog, Olive, out of her apartment and watches as she runs around before getting dressed and prepared to work her second job at Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton, left, takes time to enjoy her friend, Joe Greenberg, and roommate, Margaret Sumney, in Clarksdale Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Kaitlyn Barton rests on her sofa with her dog, Olive, after teaching at Clarksdale High school and working her part-time job at Yazoo Pass Wednesday, October 31, 2018.
Read part one of our teacher shortage series.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
