By: Jeni Gearhart
Dear Teacher on the First Day of School, Deep breath, this is going to be good. You were born for this. To the brand-new teacher on your very first day, you can do this. To the seasoned teacher on your 10th, 25th, or 30th first day, you can do this. To the burnt-out teacher who barely made it to May last year, you can do this. To the new mom trying to figure out how to be both Supermom and Rockstar Teacher, you can do this. To all of us as we pack our lunchboxes and brush the dust off our teacher shoes, we’ve got this. Every year is different. Every kid is different. The standards change, the tests change, the expectations change—but the heart of this job is the same. The reasons why we got up at 5 AM this morning are sitting in the desks in front of you. The kids matter more than anything else. Remember the kid who said last year “Miss, this is the first book I’ve liked since 5th grade. Do you got any more like that?” Remember when that same kid started begging for a few extra minutes of reading time because he needed to find out how the chapter ended. Remember the kid who wrote the beautiful essay that made you cry—that was the kid who could not write in paragraphs in September. Remember the kid who calls you “mom” and says it intentionally. Remember the kid who broke your heart when you found out that he had been abused for years. Remember the kid who stopped showing up to your class because she was transferred when she was finally moved to a safer home. Remember why you are here. To the new teacher, you are probably feeling a rollercoaster of emotions right now. Last week, you thought you were completely ready to walk into that classroom and solve all of the problems of education. This morning you felt so nauseous you couldn’t eat breakfast and you cried on the way home. Don’t worry. That’s normal. And you will probably feel that every year. New teacher, these next words are for you. You have signed up for one of the hardest jobs in the world, but you are going to be great. You are not, however, going to be perfect. You are going to mess up hundreds of times this year. That’s ok. Learn from your mistakes, try new things, and ask for advice. To the seasoned teacher, remember why you entered this profession. Look through that box of thank you notes from past students. Try something new this year. Remember your excitement when you first started. Find that again. Encourage new teachers. They need you. To the teacher who barely made it to May last year, take care of yourself this year. Find people who give you joy. Read a book or two for you this year, bake some cookies this weekend, or get back in the habit of going to the gym. It is okay that last year wasn’t perfect. This year is a new year. You’ll be great. To the new mom struggling to figure out a new balance, you can do it. You don’t have to be perfect in either job to still make an impact. Your family knows you love them, and your students do too. Be present. Teacher, you matter. This job weighs on our souls. The essays come home with us every night, and the burdens of our students come home too. Remember the stories of triumph. Remember that for every kid who you can’t reach, there are 15 who will remember your name forever. Politicians don’t get it, and often the higher ups have forgotten what it is to be in the trenches. Don’t let that keep you from trying to do the impossible. Teacher, you matter more than the test scores and the school grades. Your students know that even if the newspapers do not. Teacher, your heart is huge and it breaks easily. When it feels impossible, remember that you are doing something important. Teacher, take a deep breath. Take those new supplies into the classroom, pack your teacher bag, and walk in with a smile. You’ve got this. It’s a new year, and it is going to be a good one. This job matters. You matter. Love, WVCTE
37 Comments
Joanne M. Aikens
8/28/2017 09:17:38 am
I was a nurse for 30 years because I had great teachers to push me to do my best., and great parents that backed them! You are special people!!
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Edite Maruco - Portugal
8/31/2017 10:45:10 am
I'm a teacher! 30 years teaching and learning with my students.
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Terri Breen
9/5/2017 12:10:32 am
Thank you!😀
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Joann Pellegrino
8/31/2017 02:11:59 pm
Thanks I needed that
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Josie Spinelli
9/2/2017 08:06:22 pm
Great way to start the year!
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Fay
9/3/2017 10:01:26 pm
Love this thank you . 😊
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KathyAnn
9/4/2017 10:10:48 am
Thank you 😊 so much. I'm not teacher but I'm teacher aide. I hope I make small difference in some of the children 👶 I work with. To all of the my teachers 👨🏫 out there you are the best and we can do this. Have a wonderful year.
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Karen
9/4/2017 09:15:14 pm
You're wrong--you make a HUGE difference and you do teach❤️
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Kelly
9/4/2017 09:41:32 pm
Thank you! Teacher's aides make a world of difference! My daughter would have had a breakdown in kindergarten if it were not for her TA!
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9/6/2017 08:31:52 pm
KathyAnn....I was an elementary principal for 22 years and in education 35. YOU DO MATTER. CARING., NURTURING AIDES WERE ESSENTIAL TO A GOOD EDUCATIONAL TEAM......NEVER DOUBT YOUR IMPACT ON STUDENTS!
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Lyndia Hendry
9/4/2017 05:51:02 pm
As a retired teacher who taught for over 35 years, I know the fears but also the joys of the first day of school/ It is not easy but there is no better job in the world what you do today will influence the future. Go for it and enjoy! Know you are appreciated.
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Lucille Lampone Sisti
9/5/2017 11:24:59 am
Lyndia, I am also a retired teacher of 35 years. I taught first grade, and today my first granddaughter started first grade. I am always a little nostalgic around this time. i linger too long in the school supplies section of the stores and look at all the Fall decorations for the classroom. I love retirement, but do miss those little faces!
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Rosa
9/4/2017 10:43:09 pm
Thank you
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somer
9/4/2017 10:58:02 pm
thank you.
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Deanna
9/4/2017 11:02:02 pm
Thank you so much for this! I needed this, for I am the new teacher who thought I was good, and now am terrified. Thank you for your kind words and reminders.💜
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Gaylene
9/5/2017 08:04:10 am
Hey newby! Welcome to the profession! One day at a time!! You've got this! You ARE good!
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Robyn
9/4/2017 11:03:38 pm
I needed to read this 💜
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Hasna Omar
9/4/2017 11:05:01 pm
Thank you!!
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Lacee Eads
9/5/2017 01:05:35 am
I shared this with my husband and a few colleagues, male and female. They loved the sentiment, but wondered where the dads and male teachers could be included. Dads sometimes find it harder to volunteer because they aren't invited in and their ability to contribute isn't often through of.
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Erin Gorman
9/5/2017 01:53:43 am
I needed this! Thank you
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Kim
9/5/2017 05:57:42 am
Thank you. 39th first day of school as the teacher. Love it, dread it, want it to be perfect, know it won't, can't wait to see the kids, am so glad when they leave at 230, have felt everything you wrote anout, thank you.
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Spery
9/5/2017 07:34:11 am
Words spoken from the heart 💗💖
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Jenn
9/5/2017 12:24:02 pm
I'm a new teacher who taught for less than two weeks before we were interrupted by Harvey - just enough to experience the roughness of the start of the year and start to fall in love with my kids. Now we're getting ready to go back and I'm overwhelmed by the additional tasks ahead. Thanks for the encouragement and the reminder of why I chose to make this career change.
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Lori
9/5/2017 04:00:28 pm
Beautiful, timely and timeless. Would that all school districts had such professional support. ❤
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Maureen Shea
9/6/2017 08:25:30 pm
This says it all. I have been a school nurse for 20 years... brought a tear to my eye. I am blessed to be a member of the BEST team of teachers administrators, secretaries, lunch ladies custodians, and the list goes on and on...in Hanover, MA..."It takes a village".
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Lynn
9/13/2017 10:09:55 am
A copy of was left in the main office at my school and I picked it up. Thank you for your thoughtful expressions. I have been teaching 14 years and last year was not a really good year for me. Your are so right. Sometimes you just have to pick yourself up and start fresh. Which is exactly what I did!!
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MH Murphy
10/27/2017 08:15:13 pm
But please remember for the good you do, and the positive influence you make, one harsh or humiliating experience will be the most remembered. I was quiet and shy when I started a new school due to a move. I was a Navy brat so we moved quite often. That teacher for some reason did not care for me. She loved my new best friend and to this day I don't understand ...40 years later. I did have teachers I loved and I believe loved me. But when I read articles like these, or here all of the accolades,,she's the first one I think of . Four times in one year she embarrassed or ignored me. I hate her to this day. Words and even body language can hurt worse than a smack on the behind.
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