If you’ve ever visited the Lakeshore Learning Store during the last few weeks before the start of the school year, you’ve gotten a very tiny glimpse into the world of an educator. Bulletin board decorations and classroom themes being chosen, fresh hall passes being purchased, and the never-ending line to laminate our prized posters so we can use them for at least a full year. And then…the inevitable “Sunday Scaries” that so many of us experience—no matter what day of the week the first day of school falls on!
There’s a certain electricity in the air on the first day of school—the hum of sharpened pencils, the shuffle of new shoes, shiny new backpacks, and the hopeful yet nervous smiles lining the hallways. For almost three decades, I have had countless mornings like this, welcoming wave after wave of students whose names and stories I carry with me long after the year ends. And still, after nearly thirty years of teaching, my heart races with the same anticipation I felt as a brand-new teacher.
This love letter is for you, my fellow educators. For those rising early to decorate those freshly laminated bulletin boards. For those spending late nights reworking lessons. For those carrying not only the curriculum but also the lives and dreams of the young people entrusted to us. For those who will miss their own child’s first day of school because they are readying their classrooms to receive someone else’s children. Teaching is not just a profession; it is a promise—one we renew every fall when the school doors swing open again.
So, as another school year begins, I write to honor your perseverance, your creativity, and your unwavering belief in children. As I have said many times, teaching is a team sport! The only way to succeed in this field is to lean on each other when the deck seems stacked against us. May this letter remind you that you are seen, you are valued, and you are never alone in this work.
With that teamwork mentality in mind, I reached out to some of the unbelievably gifted educators I have been privileged to know over my storied career. I asked them to share their words of wisdom with us as we embark on this journey once again. I wish I had room to share more, but if even one thought below sparks a moment of clarity or comfort for you, then these words have done their work:
“Stay Positive! Even when you don’t think you are making an impact, YOU ARE!” – C.B.
“Let’s have a great year! Time to mold young minds!” – A.S.
“Children can feel your authenticity. Be your authentic self. Don’t be afraid to be amazed by your students. Every person brings something unique and different to the classroom—learn from it all!” – T.M.
“Be adaptable. This job will throw you a dozen curveballs at once, so you have to match the environment you’re put in. Also, give kids who struggle, a chance to fix their mistakes and get credit back.” – D.F.
“Don’t let the first day be a projection of how your year will go. EVERYONE has the first day jitters—from the most seasoned teachers to the brand-new ones!” – A.A.
“The thing to keep in mind is that these kids’ futures depend on how good of a teacher you are. That is a heavy responsibility that we carry.” – C.O.
“Make sure that you begin the school year with good classroom management skills! It doesn’t matter how much you know if you can’t control your class. Always start out tougher—you can always ease up! And remember that teaching is the only profession that touches a life forever!” – A.B.
“There’s no one like you—true superheroes!!” – M.B.
“Breathe. It’s okay to smile. Kids remember your connection, not your perfection.” – J.L.
“Always stay connected to your ‘why.’ We hold a unique opportunity that no one else in the world has—to shape, guide, and build someone’s future. That is an incredible responsibility. Approach it with kindness and gentleness, because you may very well become the reason behind somebody else’s why!” – K.B.
“The impact you have on your students’ feelings will outweigh the importance of any subject you teach!” – L.G.
“Never underestimate how much you mean to your students. Sadly, sometimes you are the only positive in their life.” – T.H.
“Pour as much time as you can into relationship-building, but set the expectations high and hold them.” – D.K.
“During your career you will hear some variation of the following statement: ‘Always remember your WHY’ or ‘focus on the WHY.’ While that statement can speak volumes about your journey as an educator, I encourage you to place equal weight on remembering your ‘HOW.’ How you treat your students, families, and colleagues will leave a lasting impression and will contribute to the legacy of your favorite teacher. Yes—the teacher that made YOU want to become a teacher mastered the ‘HOW,’ which is why you’re here today.” – W.D.
“There are teachable moments at every turn, don’t blink or you’ll miss them.” – R.B.
“Do not prejudge any students – if you taught their siblings & have an opinion, remember everyone is different & should be given a chance to prove themselves each & every day. If another teacher has something to say about a student in your class, remember each relationship between teacher & student is different. You will have a totally different student/teacher relationship. Every day is a new day with new possibilities. Move on from what may have happened yesterday and start new.” – A.W
That last piece of advice is from MY mentor, “My Alexis” as I like to call her, who 23 years ago, welcomed me into OUR classroom with open arms and an open mind! She showed me immediately what teamwork looked like! Aside from my mother, also a lifelong educator, Alexis has been the most influential educator in my life. She was such an integral part of creating the inclusive, open-minded, innovative, risk-taking, out-of-the-box thinking educator that I am today, because that is the educator she always was! She was patient with me, she respected my opinion, and she gave me an equal voice in a world where special educators don’t often find that. Together, we created a magical safe space for our students to thrive and grow and be the amazing human beings that we knew they were capable of being! And oh how they did! We even had the test scores to prove it! That class left an indelible mark on my life, I’m still connected with some of those students, even 23 years later! And Alexis, MY Alexis, she still remains as much a touchstone through all the journeys in my life today as she was that first day. Teamwork truly makes the dream work!
One final message to those who guide and inspire in the classroom, as we begin to fill the pages of this new school year, remember that the story we write together matters more than any single test score or lesson plan. It will be a story of persistence, compassion, and of lighting sparks that may burn long after our students leave our classrooms. After nearly thirty years, one thing is certain, the love you pour into your work has a ripple effect far greater than you will ever know.
So take a deep breath, smile at those eager faces, and walk into this year knowing that with every patient smile, every welcoming word, you ARE making a difference. This is my love letter to you, the educators who show up, again and again, with open hearts and steady hands. May your year be filled with small victories, deep connections, and the quiet joy of knowing you are exactly where you are meant to be.
