I'm Excited to Go Back to School… and I'm Nervous Too

Every August feels the same.

The school supplies start showing up in stores. Teachers begin setting up classrooms. Calendars fill with professional development days, open houses, and back-to-school meetings.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, I start thinking about the students I'll meet in just a few weeks.

I genuinely love this part.

There's something special about a brand-new school year. New faces. New personalities. New opportunities to make a difference. Every child walks through those doors with a story I don't know yet, and I get the privilege of becoming part of it.

So why am I nervous?

Not because of the students.

Never because of the students.

I'm nervous because education feels different than it used to.

Students are arriving with more complex needs. Teachers are carrying more responsibilities than ever before. School-based specialists are stretched thin, trying to meet growing demands with the same amount of time-and often fewer resources.

It sometimes feels like everyone is being asked to do more with less.

And that can be heavy.

There are moments when I wonder if I'm doing enough.

Will I have enough time for every student who needs me?

Will I be able to give each child the attention they deserve?

Will I spend more time completing paperwork than actually working with kids?

These aren't questions I asked early in my career.

They're questions I hear from educators everywhere.

But here's what I keep coming back to.

Despite everything that's changed, one thing hasn't.

Children still need adults who believe in them.

They need someone who notices the quiet student.

Someone who celebrates the child who finally produces a difficult sound after weeks of practice.

Someone who reminds them that learning isn't about perfection-it's about growth.

Those moments still happen every single day in our schools.

And they're still worth showing up for.

This year, I'm choosing to focus on the things I can control.

I'll celebrate the little victories.

I'll give myself grace when everything doesn't go according to plan.

I'll remember that I can't fix every challenge facing education, but I can make a difference for the students who walk through my door.

Maybe that's enough.

Actually...

I think it's more than enough.

So yes, I'm excited to go back to school.

And yes, I'm nervous too.

Maybe both things can be true at the same time.

If you're feeling that mix of excitement and uncertainty this August, know that you're not alone.

Here's to another year of showing up, doing our best, and making a difference-one student at a time.