Back to school details have been announced, teachers are preparing for the hard year ahead, parents are panicking, and kids can’t wait. No matter your feelings about the mandates your state is making for the upcoming 20-21 school year, one thing is for sure… teachers have a lot of work to do. But their prep work doesn’t just include lesson plans, making online video lessons, or setting up their classrooms. Many female teachers are also preparing for the school year by determining what outfits will work. And, it’s not as easy as you may think.

Then there’s a difference when you start working with older kids. There are new challenges to face like hormones, personal morals developing and overly active imaginations...

So now that we’ve addressed the issues these teachers have, how do they solve them? Mrs. Miner says she wears a full-length layering tee because she also struggles with pants slipping. Plus, she wants to cover her back and backside while she bends and sits with her students. Mrs. Area only buys items she doesn’t need to fix or fuss with. When I dug a little deeper with a few of the teachers I learned that they frequently put clothing items back when shopping. Or, they never get to wear them because if they bend over something might spill out or be too visible for comfort.

I have a hard time finding dresses and tops that cover my bra UNDER my arms. I must lift my arms a lot with my subject and I hate worrying about showing my entire armpit and part of my bra. Things often shift around as well when I am choreographing dances. So, I try to buy excessively long tops, so my tummy and butt stay covered when I am teaching or building sets. I have a very hourglass figure with a chest, but I am petite in the shoulders. So, I usually put back deep v-neck, boatneck, or scoop neck shirts because I don’t want to bend over or lean to the side and expose my bra straps. I also HATE that all tops are see-through. I don’t want to wear three layers all the time just to feel covered. Especially in warmer months. The poor 12 to 15-year-olds that I teach (all genders) are just beginning to notice bodies and hormones. So, even a simple bra-strap flash can distract them from what we are supposed to be focusing on.