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The first day of school is full of wonder for me and for many of us.
Seeing the big yellow buses hit the road.
Hearing the banter about Friday night football.
Seeing the students’ smiles, their eyes lit up, their double thumbs up, and their nervous anticipation.
Watching our teachers take their place as the sage on the stage and the guide by their side.
As a public school kid, school was a place of wonder for me because of our educators, who not only helped me learn, but helped me chart a path to college, helped me through my parent’s divorce, helped me learn to live life.
We all have stories like that — how the impact of educators extends so far beyond the classroom.
Our students come back to school with big smiles and bright eyes, but they also come to our classrooms with challenges — differently-abled in their physical health, mental health, the languages they speak, and their learning differences.
To our educators, welcome back to school. Your leadership matters.
You are the person who will welcome families back to school. You are the architect of the student experience that will determine whether parents believe that your classroom, your school, your district is the best fit for their child.
You are the one our students will remember when they think back on their public school experience.
Thank you for choosing to teach and choosing to lead.
Crafting your mission statement
In April 2022, I was visiting Old Fort Elementary in McDowell County to learn more about how public schools provide early care and education when I noticed a personal mission statement posted on an educator’s classroom door.
The educator was Lisette Ruiz, a National Board Certified Teacher who is a Title I/Reading Specialist. Here is her mission statement:
As educators begin this school year, I encourage you to reflect on and craft your own mission statement, thinking through the following questions:
Who are you?
Do you remain curious?
Do you have a way to assess the difference between a spark and a five-alarm fire?
Do you believe all of your children can do the work?
Do you have ways to continue to expand your perspective, connecting to others?
Are you proud to be a teacher?
Do you have ways to continue to improve your practice?
Do you have strategies to intentionally focus and refocus on the positive?
Cycles of harmony, disharmony, and repair are normal. Do you have a good toolkit for initiating and leading repair?
One learning in all of my travels: Attending only to the educator part of who you are is a sure path to burnout.
And remember the good news. In North Carolina, 84% of students choose public schools — that’s 1,538,563 students.
In a survey EdNC conducted of more than 3,000 parents, their favorite thing about the schools they chose for their children was the engaging and caring teachers, administrators, and support staff.
That’s you. You are the difference maker.
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Be gentle with yourself
I hope you will be gentler with yourself this year.
Breathe.
If it can wait, address stressful things at one time during the day, and change up the time day to day so your body doesn’t learn to anticipate when you are going to tackle the hard stuff.
Take a walk.
Ask for help.
Be intentional about your exposure to news and social media.
You can’t internalize everything. Learn to hold things outside yourself.
Carve out some sanctuary time for yourself each week when you can attend to you.
Be wary of isolation. Find your marigolds.
Alexander County Schools is revved up
In Alexander County, Dr. Bill Griffin, the superintendent, high-fived every teacher to welcome them back to school at the district’s opening session.
The theme was “revved up and ready to roll!”
The mission of the district is “building a legacy of excellence,” and its vision is to be “the educational choice for every child.”
Alexander County is the home to Harry Gant, a racecar driver who will be admitted to the Hall of Fame in 2026.
The school board was on hand, celebrating the educators and offering gratitude. “We are grateful for you and your hard work,” said board member Jesse Bowles.
The 2024 Teacher Working Conditions Survey found that 95.21% of educators in this district believe their school is a good place to work and learn — that’s even higher than the state average of 91.07%.
“For our students, so many of them come to us with heart stories,” said Bowles, hoping that “as they step through our doors, they will find peace, they will find encouragement, and they will be treated with kindness, grace, and mercy.”
“Together, we seek to make the 2025-26 school year the best it’s ever been,” said Bowles.
From Alexander County, welcome back to school, North Carolina!
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