By: Alex Parker

“There was zero time to prepare.” That single line from Paul Buckley captures a major challenge in early childhood education. The founder of Ratio Staffing shared his story on Right Moves with Dr. Debbie Rhea, explaining how burnout pushed him to find a better way for teachers and schools.

Early Lessons that Shaped His Work

Paul’s first lessons on responsibility came from an unlikely place. At 13, he worked for a photographer who had him load vans, paint, and wash cars. More importantly, he taught him how to learn from mistakes. “If you make a mistake, it’s okay, as long as you learn from it,” Paul remembered.

That mindset followed him into education. At 17, he joined a community after-school program and discovered how meaningful the work could be. “It was clear how important this work was. Not only did I feel it innately in me… I felt the importance of it,” he said.

He stayed in that role for years, often working with the same children from kindergarten through fifth grade. He saw firsthand how consistency and care could make a difference in a child’s life.

When Passion Led to Burnout

Later, Paul became a lead teacher at a private preschool. The shift from a community program to a corporate setting took its toll. “What burned me out was my emotional state and my emotional disagreement with the company maxing out the ratios, number one,” he explained.

In California, the ratio is one teacher for every twelve students. Paul described how his classroom often reached the maximum of twenty-four students with two teachers. He also faced new layers of risk paperwork and administrative tasks.

The most difficult part was the lack of time to plan. “There was zero time to prepare… no time built in for team meetings,” he said. “You end up prepping on your break or at home.”

After two years, he left the job, realizing he could no longer do the work in a way that he felt aligned with his beliefs.

Finding Structure and Leadership in Biotech

Paul then spent ten years working in biotech manufacturing. The move was unexpected but gave him lessons in leadership and process improvement. He earned a Six Sigma Green Belt and led teams focused on quality and efficiency.

Even in that environment, he never lost sight of people. “My first conversation always was, where do you want to go?” he said about working with his team members. “I want you to be happy and moving in the direction that’s right for you.”

He realized that helping people thrive was what mattered most to him. That understanding eventually brought him back to education.

Building Ratio Staffing

After leaving biotech, Paul took time to stay home with his newborn son. When his wife’s preschool struggled to fill a leadership role, he offered to help. He rewrote the job posting, simplified the interview process, and helped them find the right person in just two months. “There’s a huge need for schools and teachers to connect and find each other,” he said.

In 2018, he founded Ratio Staffing to make that connection easier. The platform allows preschools to post jobs, search resumes, and connect directly with substitute teachers and enrichment educators. Teachers can turn their availability on or off in real time. “What we are doing is increasing the connection between schools and teachers,” Paul said.

The system also supports flexibility. Teachers can explore different schools, age groups, and teaching styles before committing to a full-time position. Schools can find qualified substitutes and enrichment teachers without the delays often associated with traditional staffing agencies.

A Growing Network for Educators and Schools

Today, Ratio Staffing serves the San Francisco Bay Area and is expanding to new regions. The platform also welcomes speech pathologists and enrichment instructors, such as music or movement teachers.

Paul encourages educators to sign up and parents to share the resource with their schools. “Tell the school it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways of doing it, and we’re here for you,” he said.

He remains focused on one simple idea: When teachers feel supported, classrooms are often calmer, and children tend to benefit from a more positive environment.