Dr. Jeff Prickett

Dr. Jeff Prickett sits in a dark office, computer screen on, and an inbox is flooded with emails from students, teaching staff, security and more. All of the work piles up, feeling almost insurmountable. Stress builds up and leads to many staff members feeling burnt out just from a few months back in school at MCHS.

Coming back from summer break after a year of online learning, hybrid learning and some in-person learning has taken its toll on not just teachers, but administration as well, including MCHS’s principal. “I think people came back knowing that it would be different but not quite how it would be different,” says Prickett. 

This change paired with the combining of campuses and many more blended classes has led to a lot of stress being placed onto his shoulders. “Trying to figure out how I can meet people’s needs is just very tough,” Prickett states. “I don’t have all the answers.”

Nonetheless he finds ways to support the many members of the teaching staff that are feeling burnt out from this school year.  Encouraging staff to take mental health days and days for themselves. Prickett adds, “Because if you’re not good, you’re not going to be good for anybody else.”

This burn out that Prickett says is making the staff feel “spring break tired” in October and November is making waves in many other areas of MCHS, not just Prickett.