This is it,” says social studies teacher Ashley Gayanilo. She points to her toes, showcasing what she says are “literally all I wear”: her Dansko clogs.

“You could run a marathon in these,” Gayanilo said. She swears by these clogs, and has gotten a new pair every year in August since her second year of teaching.

A former teacher recommended them to her to help alleviate back pain.

“They’re literally all I wear,” said Gayanilo. Although she normally just gets plain black clogs, this year she’s “digging the marble.”

Rob Rogers, a Social Studies teacher, also prioritizes comfort when choosing his shoes. His top pick is Merrell shoes.

He currently owns three pairs, and says that they are “amazingly comfortable.”

Merrell shoes are specifically made to endure long hikes and other strenuous activities, including standing at the front of a room for seven hours a day.     For grade-level assistant Alice Atticks, comfortable shoes aren’t just a choice, they’re a necessity. She wears running shoes “for comfort because I walk seven to eight miles a day.”

Other teachers are more willing to compromise their comfort for the sake of style.

“I want something that is going to look more professional,” says English teacher Heather Colletti-Houde. She says she is accustomed to the less-than-comfy styles. “I’m used to wearing high heels.”

Carole Avery, a Social Studies teacher, shares similar sentiments. “It’s complicated because you have to look good,” she said.

However, Avery does admit to owning two pairs of the Dansko clogs.

“I want to get a new pair but I can’t justify it,” she said.

The clogs run at a steep price – $130, but the teachers who wear them say they are worth every penny.

The clogs, which according to the company are inspired by Dutch clogs, are now a uniform requirement for many nurses, being sold on nursing-wear websites such as scrubsandbeyond.com and allnurses.com.

Dansko clogs may have been made popular by nurses, but many teachers have followed suit.

“I have one pair of shoes for 10 months,” says Gayanilo.

Whether it be Dansko clogs, Merrell shoes, or even a pair of stylish high-heeled boots, teachers at Staples are making their mark throughout the classroom and hallways.