October 2025

Dear Teacher, 

You are well into the school year. The first impressions are distant memories, your students are finding some type of rhythm, and the school days pass by. There are times when you find yourself in moments of pure joy. When students tell a completely random and hilarious story, or when they are just beginning to believe in themselves and pursuing their newly discovered passions. You think to yourself, “How did I get the best job in the world?”

And there are other times when you feel so worn - so weary - that you don’t know how you’ll find the strength to keep going. Your students carry the weight of their worlds into your classroom. You listen, you love, and you inspire. But you have your own world and it feels heavy sometimes too. More and more is being added to your plate, personally and professionally, and you ache to feel like you can breathe again. 

My hope and prayer is that you would embrace deep grace for yourself. When you react in a way you regret, when you need to say “no” instead of “yes,” when you can’t do it all or solve it all; it will be okay. As you allow yourself grace, it becomes more natural to extend grace to others - your students, colleagues, leaders, and families. And let’s face it: In the world we’re sharing right now, don’t we all need a little more grace?