Back to School: How One Powerful Goal Can Transform Your Year
The smell of freshly sharpened pencils. The neatly stacked classroom supplies. The buzz of energy in the hallways. Back-to-school season has a way of bringing both excitement and an overwhelming to-do list.
As educators, it’s easy to get caught up in lesson plans, classroom setup, and schedules. But before the year takes off at full speed, there’s something even more important to prepare-your personal goal for professional growth.
I’m not talking about a checklist of twenty things you should do. I’m talking about one, single, meaningful goal that you intentionally focus on this year-something that would make you say at the end of the year, “That changed the way I teach.”
The Year I Chose “Meaningful Data”
Many, many (many!) years ago, my goal was simple but powerful: take more meaningful data.
I had always collected data-it’s part of the job. But if I’m honest, much of it was just numbers on a page. It wasn’t always guiding my decisions as effectively as it could have. So I committed to slowing down, tracking student performance in a more intentional way, and, most importantly, using that data in real time to adjust my teaching.
What changed?
I could see patterns and trends sooner.
I felt more confident in explaining progress to parents and colleagues.
My instruction became laser-focused on what students actually needed-not what I thought they needed.
And my students? They made bigger gains because I was better.
Why One Goal Works Better Than Ten
Educators are notorious for setting huge lists of goals at the start of the year. The problem? We burn out, lose track, and end up feeling like we fell short.
Choosing one meaningful goal allows you to:
Focus your energy and attention.
Build habits that stick beyond this school year.
See visible progress and celebrate wins along the way.
How to Choose Your Goal
If you’re not sure where to start, ask yourself:
What’s one area of my teaching that would make the biggest difference if I improved it?
Where have I felt the most frustration in the past year?
What’s something I’ve always wanted to get better at but never made time for?
Your goal might be:
Incorporating more movement into lessons.
Giving more specific feedback to students.
Strengthening relationships with families.
Streamlining lesson planning to save time.
This Year, Choose with Intention
When you walk back into your classroom, office, or therapy room, don’t just think about what your students will learn. Think about what you will learn and how you’ll grow.
Pick your one powerful goal. Write it down. Share it with a colleague. Keep it in front of you all year.
For me, it was meaningful data. For you, it might be something entirely different. But I promise-one intentional goal can change your teaching and your perspective in ways you can’t predict.
Here’s to a year of growth, for your students and for you.
