The Other Side of “One More Thing”
The Virtual Vibe: Success and Sanity for the Online Teacher
September 14, 2026
I have a confession to make.
I've been part of the problem.
Over more than 25 years in education, I've watched us become exceptionally talented at one particular skill: adding things.
New expectations. New systems. New initiatives. New tools to manage the initiatives. New trainings to learn the tools.
Sometimes we even add things because teachers have too many things.
Let that one marinate for a second.
I've experienced this from both sides. I've been the teacher hearing about the newest expectation and thinking, You want me to do WHAT now?
And I've been the person standing in front of teachers saying, “Okay, everyone! Here's what we're going to do!” while internally thinking, Dear Lord, where are they going to find the time for this?
I've introduced the tool. Created the training. Explained the expectation. Made the slides. I've asked teachers to add one more thing to a plate I already knew was full.
Sometimes I've believed strongly in what I was asking them to do. Other times, I've put on my best “We've got this!” face while internally thinking, Do we, though?
I've even had to monitor the “11s” between my eyebrows because apparently my forehead does not understand that some thoughts are supposed to stay internal.
Here's the part we don't talk about enough.
Sometimes the person delivering the message is struggling with the message too.
They may know exactly how it's going to land. They may agree with the frustration. They may know teachers are already overwhelmed. But they've also been told, This is what we're doing.
So they smile. They explain. They listen to the frustration. They answer the questions. And they lead.
I've had moments when I've wanted to scream, I KNOW! I KNOW THIS IS A LOT! Instead, I've told my forehead to get itself together, pulled up the next slide, and kept going.
And let me be clear. That doesn't make the workload okay.
Teachers have every right to be frustrated by unrealistic expectations. A leader's discomfort doesn't magically add another hour to a teacher's day.
But sometimes both people in the conversation are struggling with the same ask. They're just carrying different parts of it.
The teacher is thinking, How am I supposed to do one more thing?
The leader is thinking, How am I supposed to ask them to do one more thing?
I think the bigger problem is that education has become really good at adding and really bad at subtracting.
And “just take something off their plate” sounds great until you realize that sometimes you can't. The requirement isn't yours to remove.
So what do you do?
I don't think there's a perfect answer. But I do think those of us who support and lead teachers can pay closer attention to what we can control.
Can we simplify something? Stop duplicating something? Protect some time? Advocate upward? Maybe stop turning every good idea into another requirement?
Technology can help. AI can save time. Systems can streamline work. But none of them can solve a workload that expands every time we create a little breathing room.
So before the next Very Important Thing That Will Definitely Make Everything Easier™ comes along, maybe we ask:
What can we take away?
And when the honest answer is nothing, maybe we just acknowledge it.
Yep. This is a lot.
Teachers aren't wrong for feeling overwhelmed. Leaders aren't necessarily thrilled to be delivering the next ask.
Sometimes we're just two people looking at the same ridiculously full plate from opposite sides of the table.
Understanding that won't take anything off the plate, but it might make it a little easier to sit at the same table.
Pause, Ponder, and Progress
Pause: Think about the last “one more thing” you were asked to do, or asked someone else to do. What did that moment feel like from your side of the table?
Ponder: How might that same ask have felt from the other side?
Progress: The next time something new lands on the plate, ask: What can we simplify, take away, or simply choose not to add?
About the Author
With over 20 years in education - most of them spent in the virtual trenches - Desire’ Mosser has done more than survive online teaching; she’s helped others thrive in it! As the author of SOS: Strategies for Online Survival, she dishes out practical tools, honest lessons, and just the right amount of humor to keep educators going.
Former Pasco eSchool Teacher of the Year and Florida Virtual Schools Mentor of the Year, she continues to champion excellence in virtual learning today. She currently serves as President of B.O.L.D. (Blended Online Learning Discovery of Florida). Her passion? Coaching educators to find their stride, build meaningful connections with students and families, and master the art of scheduling for sanity—preferably with a strong cup of coffee in hand. For more real talk, useful tips, and the occasional caffeine-fueled confession, connect with her on LinkedIn.
