In Mississippi, where teacher shortages are rampant and education funding is scarce, many educators find themselves stretched to the limit. For Kaitlyn Barton, a 25-year-old English teacher at Clarksdale High School, her workday doesn’t end when the final bell rings. She’s off to her second job, waiting tables at Yazoo Pass, just to make ends meet. After a 13-hour day, she still finds herself grading papers and planning lessons into the late hours, sacrificing personal time for the sake of her students.

This is the reality for many teachers in Mississippi, where low pay and high expectations force them to balance passion with survival. Barton, a Teach for America Corps member, earns less than $37,000 a year — far below the national average of nearly $60,000. Despite the rewards of teaching, she faces a constant struggle to cover her living expenses, including rent, car payments, and the care of her beloved dog, Olive. The modest $1,500 pay raise recently passed by the state government was hardly the relief many teachers were hoping for.

Still, Barton remains dedicated to her students. In her classroom, she inspires and nurtures a love for learning, but outside of it, the financial strain weighs heavily. With each passing day, she questions whether the career she loves can continue to sustain her. “Teachers are expected to act professionally without receiving the respect of a professional,” she says, torn between her passion for teaching and the pressures of financial insecurity.

As Barton contemplates her future, the question remains: How long can a teacher keep giving when the system asks for more than it gives in return?