Good Morning Y’all,

Hey, fellow teachers! Can we be real for a minute?

We didn’t commit our lives to education just to survive another school year. We chose this path to thrive, to lead with purpose, and to ignite potential in every student who walks through our door.

But after everything we’ve been through in recent years, many of us are walking into the new school year tired, stretched thin, and wondering if we still have that spark… that PASSION FOR TEACHING.

The good news… we do. The better news… we can reignite that passion TOGETHER.

As always, if you find this info helpful, please share it with your teacher bestie!

Here are three powerful steps we can take to make 2025–2026 the school year where we take back our joy, our energy, and our love for teaching.

✅ Step 1: Let’s Reconnect with Our “Why”

Before the PD days start and the lesson plans kick in, let’s take a quiet moment to ask ourselves:

Why did we say yes to teaching in the first place?

Was it to make a difference?

To offer stability to a child who has none?

To help students believe in themselves the way someone once believed in us?

That original purpose still matters. It grounds us. It gives us meaning beyond the meetings, mandates, and metrics.

📌 Let’s write down our “why” and keep it visible: on our desk, near our mirror, or even on our classroom wall. When the chaos hits, it’ll remind us who we are and why we do what we do.

🛠 Step 2: Let’s Simplify, Streamline, and Protect Our Energy

If we’re going to thrive this year, we can’t run on fumes. Burnout is real, but it’s not inevitable.

Let’s take control of our time and energy by working smarter, not harder.

• Automate what we can. Tools like Google Forms, AI (yes… ChatGPT), and templates can help us save time on lesson planning, grading, and communication.
  

• Batch our tasks. Instead of multitasking, let’s group our work. Grade in chunks, plan in blocks, communicate at set times.
  

• Set boundaries and protect our peace. We’re not being selfish, we’re being sustainable. We deserve evenings, weekends, and planning periods that actually refill us.

🎯 Let’s give ourselves permission to say “no” to what drains us and “yes” to what fuels us.

💬 Step 3: Let’s Build a Classroom Culture That Sparks Joy

We know that students don’t just need information… they need connection.

Let’s build classroom cultures that are firm, consistent, and full of life. Not perfect, but real. A place where expectations are high, grace is abundant, and laughter is normal.

Ways we can bring that to life by:

• Greeting each student with purpose and presence.
  

• Creating systems for recognizing effort and growth.
  

• Using moments throughout the week to reinforce our class identity and values.

When our classroom becomes a safe space, not just academically but emotionally, it changes everything… for our students and for us.

Bottom Line Y’all…

We’re Not Just Going Through It, We’re Growing Through It

We don’t have to carry last year’s burnout into this year. We have an opportunity to pivot, reset, and build something better.

Let’s walk into the ‘25–‘26 school year with confidence, strategy, and commitment.

We’ve got the skills! We’ve got the calling! And now we’ve got a plan.

Let’s make it count.

~Mitch

🎵 The Great American Super Summer Teacher Playlist 🎶 

🌞Keep soaking up the rays and taking long dips in the pool, lake, river, or ocean for just a bit longer! 🎉 You’ve graded, guided, and survived another school year — now it’s time to press play, roll the windows down, and soak up that well-deserved sunshine!🌴 This playlist is packed with feel-good classics like Walking on Sunshine, Happy, Summer of '69, Don’t Worry Be Happy, Sweet Caroline, and 40 more upbeat anthems to fuel your summer joy. 🎶Whether you’re poolside, road tripping, or just dancing barefoot in your living room — this is your soundtrack to rest, recharge, and remember why you love life.Teachers, you’ve earned it. Crank it up. 💃

🎯Finish strong. Celebrate big. You deserve it!🎯

Share TCN, Earn Some Swag!

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