The EASIEST way to inject laughter and smiles to your start of year.

What is it?

Back to the Faculty is a weeklong adventure for your faculty and staff that runs in the background of any week near the start of the year. You can use it during the first in-service days, or even later on in September or October to add energy to an otherwise normal school week. Everything culminates with one of the most memorable and joyous 30-45 minute staff meeting finales that you will ever hold.

Why staff love it

Back to the Faculty feels like a mystery game the principal created just for them, unfolding around the school and giving staff something to laugh about, talk about, and look forward to each day. It combats burnout before it can start, replacing awkward icebreakers and forced team-building with laughter, conversation, and genuine connection that will carry over for weeks and months to come.

Fill out the 10-minute setup file to form your teams and pick your date, then email it back to us. We’ll process the file and send you a complete kit with custom, daily messages and missions.

How it works.

Back to the Faculty unfolds through a series of daily messages, clues, missions, and surprises delivered throughout the week.

Everything kicks off with an announcement that the principal (or an assistant) has been doing some “traveling” and now wants to host a contest with a special SECRET prize picked out for the winners. That's all the information at this time, but everyone should look for an email the next day.

The following morning, teams receive messages from different cities around the world, all detailing how they suspect the principal has been time-traveling, jumping from era to era, and offering their help to win the secret prize.

You'll be amazed how quickly the mystery takes on a life of its own as staff begin discussing clues, speculating about what happens next, and filling your hallways with laughter and energy.

Each day teams get new messages, new missions, and new clues. Everything builds upon itself, and they must strategize, communicate, and come together as a team to solve the mystery and win the contest.

"Missions" only take 5 minutes a day to complete, but they’ll be talking about it all day. The goal is to make their week more enjoyable, not add more work to it!

The plot involves twists, turns, clues, and tons of humor. There are jokes, hidden clues, riddles, talent competitions, trivia, and contests of all kinds.

The only requirement for the school is a prize for the winning team, but you get creative ideas so the prizes need not cost you anything.

Easy to Implement

Fill out the 10-minute setup file to form your teams and pick your date, then email it back to us. All staff are welcome to participate, not just teachers. Keep grades together to strengthen bonds, or mix them up to increase communication.

We’ll process the file and send you a complete kit with custom, daily messages and missions to print for each team.

Built Upon What Teachers Love

Over 10,000 schools have participated in The Contest over the last ten years, our most successful program of all time.

Back to the Faculty was built upon what made The Contest great, capturing the same mystery, laughter, spontaneity, and excitement, while introducing an all-new time-travel adventure featuring secret cities, historical clues, and a completely new storyline.

Whether you've never heard of The Contest or you've run it multiple times, Back to the Faculty delivers a fresh adventure your staff will love from beginning to end.