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Every school has one.
The teacher who disappears mysteriously between lessons.
The one who walks back into the staffroom looking unusually relaxed while everyone else is fighting for survival with marking schemes and noisy learners.
Nobody says it openly, but the signs are always there.
- The “I’ll Be Back” Disappearances
The bell rings.
Other teachers sit down to rest.
But not this one.
Within seconds, they vanish like a student avoiding compound cleaning duty.
No explanation. No discussion. Just a quick exit and a calm return a few minutes later.
Veteran teachers already know the mission. - The Pocket Full of Mints and Sweets
Their pockets sound like a mini supermarket.
Mint after mint. Sweet after sweet. Chewing gum like it’s part of the curriculum.
You start wondering whether they teach or run a confectionery business on the side. - Always Chewing Something
If they’re not teaching, they’re chewing.
Gum. Mints. Seeds. Anything.
The mouth is permanently occupied like a student during lunch break. - The Signature Restlessness
You’ll notice it during long meetings.
Other teachers are seated comfortably.
But the smoker?
Shifting position every two minutes. Checking the door. Looking outside. Acting like the meeting has personally offended them.
Once tea break arrives, they move faster than students hearing the final bell on Friday afternoon. - The “Fresh Air” Excuse
“I’m just going outside for fresh air.”
A classic line.
Funny enough, they need this “fresh air” several times a day.
And somehow they always return calmer, quieter, and ready to continue discussing mean scores professionally. - The Silent Staffroom Agreement
The funniest part?
Everybody notices. Nobody talks about it openly.
Teachers simply exchange knowing smiles and continue with life.
Because in schools, people have already accepted one important truth: Every teacher has their own survival mechanism.
Some survive on tea. Some on gossip. Some on motivational quotes. Others on weekend sleep.
And some… Need their mysterious “walks.”
Final Word
Teaching is stressful enough already.
Between lesson plans, deadlines, noisy students, surprise inspections, and endless meetings, staffrooms become places where different personalities coexist peacefully.
So the smoker in the staffroom simply becomes part of the school ecosystem — mysterious, predictable, and strangely unforgettable.