I'm also a teacher and have the same problem. We go back to school in less than 2 weeks and Lucy will be home alone from 7 a.m. until around 3:30 p.m. Sometimes a little less, but we're going to keep her in our laundry room that's about 4 x 5 feet of free roaming space. Her kennel is in there and we have gated off the kitchen so she can't get out into the house. My concern is peeing on my tile and getting into the grout. She has done it before and I just hope that the power of vinegar will save the situation. We've tried pads, but I don't really like them and she doesn't use them consistently either. Our vet said since she's a good size, nearly 5 lbs., to feed her in the morning, take it away, then again in the evening. I also plan to hide treats in the room so she can find them during the day and have a little snack. My vet also believes it'll be easier to potty train her once school starts and we're on a set schedule. Being home all the time doesn't really set up her schedule for the long run. I can understand that. I think she'll sleep a lot of the time too. I thought about leaving the tv on too, but we have satellite and it will automatically shut off after a while, so she'll just have to get used to it.
