Back to School: A Letter to Teachers

Dear Teacher, 

As August begins and “Back to School” becomes your reality once again, how are you doing? Are you holding onto summer moments as long as you can, or diving headfirst into the exciting preparations of a new school year? Or perhaps a bit of both. 

Are you planning and preparing your space of learning, imagining how your students will learn and grow here? Have you already gotten your class list or greeted your students? Are your back-to-school meetings mixed with inspiration, curiosity, and an overwhelming amount of information? Are you stepping into your first year of teaching, nervously practicing every part of your initial lessons? Perhaps you are well into this educational vocation, and eager to try something new. Or are you approaching the end of your career as a teacher, filled with a mix of emotions ranging from exhaustion to nostalgia?

As you read these questions, maybe the excited anticipation doesn’t necessarily reflect the feelings you are navigating today. Has the summer left you feeling an unexpected sense of emptiness or loss? Were your expectations altered? Are you returning to the school year in a role that is new, unfamiliar, or unwelcomed? Do you feel a heaviness when you consider all that needs to be done and what this year may hold? Do you feel invisible or unappreciated despite sharing your strengths time and time again?

My dear teacher friend, I ask all of these questions because I’ve felt all of these feelings every year in the month of August. The big, bold, exciting feelings of embarking on another school year! And the challenging, exhausting feelings of taking on all the responsibilities that accompany the role of a teacher. You are not alone. No one has it all together. No one has figured out the perfect balance. (And if you find someone who you think has, learn as much as you can from them!) So take it one day at a time - one minute at a time if you need to - and do the next right thing. Respond to the email. Pause to watch the sunset. Laminate the posters. Laugh with a friend. Sit with the feelings. In this season, you are still invited to find refreshment, dream big, and be intentional. 

Sincerely, 

Christina