Stop Putting Yourself Last: How to Curate Your Best Teacher Summer Yet

Your expo markers are barely making streaks on the board but you can almost count the school days left on your hands (and maybe toes). 

You are almost to the finish line. 

Time to Curate Your Summer

If you are new around the G&G community you might now know our soapbox about focusing on you first and teaching second. 

A lot of times we are thrust into the notion that we are teachers first. 

We call bull. 

We truly believe the best teachers focus on themselves first and then their career second. This can sound a little “woo-woo” and maybe you need some specific examples. Well I aim to please. 

• You choose your school based on the pay so you can support yourself/family

• You leave at contract hours even when the to-do list is lengthy

• You take sick days/personal days for anything you dang well please

• You choose what FFA events you want to do not based on what your alumni/past advisor did

• You plan your summer first and then fill in extended day/year requirements after

To help you curate the summer YOU want and need, we suggest working your way through 4 steps: me, you, us, school. Particularly in that order. Why? 

Because I know you. I am similar to you. I (tend to) put everyone else’s responsibilities and needs above mine. Including my kids, husband, family, friends and students.

But, YOU need the break just as much as the kids. So we make sure we treat ourselves first, not last. Remember what they say in the airplane “put your mask on first before assisting others.” That is your summer mentality. 

“Curate something for me, and then I will curate something for you”

4 Steps To Curating Your Best Teacher Summer Yet

ME

When I think about my summer I want to ensure I have an activity in each of my personal 3 circle model’s. iF you have no idea what I am talking about check out our blog You Are More Than Just a Teacher: How to Use the Three Circle Model Outside of the Classroom. 

My personal 3 circle model includes adventures, growth and relationships. So, before I start worrying about who is going to what camp, what work events I need to go to, or if I really want to make it to that family vacation, I carve out time to ensure I pour into myself. 

When I have activities in my three circle model, I show up better as a wife, mother, friend and teacher. And I am willing to bet when you do activities that align with your core values you do too. 

Here is what I am planning this summer:

Adventure: (Half) Cross-country road-trip with lots of stops with family and friends!

Relationships: Going to see an off-Broadway play with a friend, hosting a crafty night with friends, having day dates with my kids and learning to bake sourdough with my sister

Growth: I am participating in a Summer Half-Marathon program with a local running community. My race will be in September! 

These are BIG audacious things that I had penciled into my 2026 Yearly BINGO board but I also know that little sprinkles of joy throughout the weeks will help me enjoy summer as well. So, I plan to sprinkle little joyful (free/low cost)  things throughout the summer like getting my favorite McDonald’s crispy coke zero, going thrifting, and reading outside. 

What are some of the BIG and little things you can plan for yourself this summer? 

SCHOOL

This is the category that will be different based on your contract. Some of you might work 45 days in the summer and some will have no contracted days. 

Regardless, you will want to or need to do some school work in the summer. Maybe it is just cleaning the classroom, doing a few CDE practices, or a full fledged summer calendar that’s booked and busy. 

The thing I want to stress is to only do what is necessary and will fill your cup. 

This summer I have no contracted time. But, I do have the ability to take some time for some paid professional development after Germinate. 

Once I reviewed my schedule and my family schedule I was able to book some classes where I get to learn something I WANT for the new year. 

Summer school time doesn’t have to just be about checking boxes, it can be about leaning into learning new tools to help the next school year. If you aren’t sure what you need, check out our Germinate Tracks Quiz to help you figure out what sessions to prioritize at Germinate. 

When you commit to something this summer, actually commit to it. 

Put your required things on the calendar and carve out time for the things you want to do. 

Treat it as a meeting/event and actually put it in your Google Calendar or paper calendar. 

That means if you want to get coffee with a friend, block out those two hours. Or if your classroom needs your undivided attention, block another two hour block. 

This will remind you that it is IMPORTANT to you!

YOU 

This “you” category could include spouses, children, family members, roommates, friends etc. This is when you need to plan something FOR them, not WITH them. That is the next category. 

For me it is childcare. Once I know my work and personal schedule, then I can figure out where I need support for family things like childcare or where I want to do bonding events like vacations.

Personally, we are in the season of camps not daycare and my kiddos basically like all the opposite things. I feel like a Jedi master trying to curate their summer schedule. But, good news is I have already scheduled my summer so I can fit their plans around mine. 

I live by my family shared calendar and make sure that everything is accurately depicted so everyone knows exactly where we need to be and when.

And since I already know what I want to do for myself and what I need to do for my contract, I can easily see where I need to find support for the other people in my life.

If you are out of the daycare phase and have school aged kids I would HIGHLY advise you look at your local city/town/county recreation summer camps. My kids have gone to camps like skateboarding and flag football to chess camp and cooking camp. And usually for a MUCH cheaper rate than privatized camps. 

I also am a huge supporter of high school camps. As an ag teacher, we ran Vet Camps and that paid our FFA chapter’s bills throughout the year. I loved those weeks in the summer and it feels good to give back to the high schools in my area now!

SPACE

Once you complete the me, school, and you categories you might realize that “gosh, this summer is FULL.” And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing especially if you are leaning into things that light your fire. 

But, I also am a firm believer in a good dormancy day. Some people call it “rotting” but that assumes that the end result of a peaceful, no plan day is a bad result. 

I vehemently disagree. When you take a step back and provide space in your calendar you are giving yourself time to recover and recharge for the next activities. 

Just like trees have a dormancy period. They know they need to lay low and save energy in the winter so they can bloom in the spring. 

So, now that all your required activities are on the calendar make sure to pencil in some dormancy days to conserve energy and prevent summer burnout!

Being able to have some summer time off with my family is something that I truly missed when I was out of the classroom. Even my husband is sad he is missing out on the simple low energy activities we have planning for our days off. 

I hope with these suggestions in mind that you curate a summer that fills you up and serves you and yours well! 

While we’re on the topic of teacher burnout, let it be known that here at G&G, it’s our goal to help you avoid that allll year long, not just in the summer time. 

Here’s some more good reads and resources around this topic:

• A Simple Exercise to Redefine Your Identity as a Teacher

• A 4-Step Strategy for Asking for Help as a Teacher

• How to Rediscover Life Outside the Classroom

Non-traditional FFA Banquet Ideas to Make It The Best One Yet

I didn’t cry at my wedding. 

I think I was too caught up in all the to-do’s to let my true emotions of joy and excitement show through happy tears. 

But, I have cried at multiple FFA banquets. And it wasn’t because of stress!

The combination of sitting proudly as my students ran the show, watching my students who don’t normally win awards stand proudly as they receive one, and getting to see the growth of our chapter just hits me in the heart. 

How to Make Your FFA Banquet the Best Yet 

The Set-Up

When I first started teaching at a very well established chapter I was told by the fellow CTE teachers and parents of FFA members I MUST SERVE Barbeque, host in the cafeteria, and do the banquet on a certain day. 

I was new to the area, I started at that school in March, and hosted my very first banquet two months later. So, I just went with what they said. 

I am not saying it was a mistake. But, now that I am a seasoned teacher I know that it is up to me and my current officer team to call the shots!

So, if you are stuck in the hum-drum same old, same old traditions that you would like to spice up, try out some of these ideas from teachers across the country. 

FFA Banquet Ideas

Awards Ceremony in Theatre

Instead of a normal sit-down dinner awards ceremony try a more typical awards ceremony like you might see on TV! Host it in the theatre, have kids come up on stage to get awards. Bada-bing-bada-boom. Super simple and cost effective – the biggest expense would be the awards itself (if you don’t have to rent your space). 

Before School Breakfast Banquet

Do you have some early risers? If so, why not do a before school breakfast banquet? You could even combine it with a fundraiser pancake breakfast! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I feel like this would be a great new tradition. 

Recognize each student individually

Something that I think we all find hard is when you have to call up the same students over and over and over again because they are an incredible FFA member. 

Hear me when I say this isn’t a bad thing, but it is time consuming with all the standing up, walking up for the award, taking a picture, and going back to seats. 

To help with this, many ag teachers give out a student’s award all at once, o they only need to come up once hence saving time!

No Speakers 

This may be a controversial take, but what if it was all awards and no speeches? No state officer, no senior speeches, no creed performance, no advisor send off. Just awards! 

I will be honest, I have sat at many awards programs (not just FFA) where the speeches were too long, too boring, or off brand of the event. This might be a time saver and sanity saver for your attendees. 

The Food

Food is very personal and unique to every chapter. You might be stuck in the same Smithfield’s barbeque rotation like I was in my first chapter. The ag teachers from across the country have some very cool ideas for you to spice up the food you are serving at your next banquet below. 

Baked Potato Bar

Dare I say, say less? This sounds amazing and much easier than getting multiple types of meat along with all the sides. You just make some taters and have a lot of toppings. I love the uniqueness and simplicity of this idea! (@justicemarie298)

Dessert Luncheon

We had multiple FFA advisors go the sweet tooth route for their banquet. From a dessert pot luck where everyone brings a dessert, to an ice cream social and a simple Cookie Tray from Sam’s club you really can’t go wrong with a sweet treat to celebrate your FFA members. 

Pasta Bar 

Similar to our baked potato bar idea, why not make it Italian! Cater or make your own pastas, have a couple types of sauces and toppings and you are carb-loading your attendees into happiness as they watch the rest of the festivities. 

Food truck

I would like an invite to this banquet next year. This chapter had a taco truck for a set amount of time and each person got a set amount of money to eat! WOW! That sounds like a crowd pleaser. 

Potluck

FFA is about community and sometimes the best way to celebrate is to come together for a potluck. Many chapters purchase the main course (ex. Tri-tip, barbeque, burgers) and have community members bring side dishes and desserts. Many suggest using a sign-up genius or digital form to make sure you have all the bases covered (like more mac-n-cheese and less potato salad). 

The Awards

I still remember the days when the National FFA Store sent a magazine to each FFA advisor to make sure they had all the newest awards ready for banquet season. Nowadays, we just do it virtually.

And don’t get me wrong, the ease of getting those specialized plaques from National FFA makes the ordering so easy. But, sometimes you wanna shake things up and surprise the students! 

Here are some new ideas for the awards you give out to celebrate your students at the banquet.

Ribbons

My chapter did this and we loved it. We made “horse show” ribbons and gave them out to every CDE and application award participant. They were gold, silver and bronze for what emblem they earned at the region or state level events. 

Banners

I feel like banners are huge in Texas and California (if your state does it too let me know!). Banners look amazing in classrooms for the team awards. Why not try and replicate those for individual chapter awards? I can already imagine the cute pennants proudly displayed in chapter member’s homes!

Pins

Pins are a cost effective way to recognize member’s successes and BONUS they get to wear them on their official FFA jackets. WIN-WIN. Most pins cost you $2-3 from Shop FFA. Grab them for your greenhands, CDE/LDE/proficiency and agriscience fair participants!

Plants

Got any extra plants from the plant sale hanging around? Why not give those out at the banquet. Maybe not to your students but to alumni, volunteers, administration, board members that attend and support your students. I bet they would love that extra nod of appreciation!

Donations

I’ve never tried this in a chapter but it is something we do in G&G with Germinate speakers. To celebrate someone’s accomplishment, what if instead of dropping $50 on a plaque, you donate that $50 to a chapter scholarship fund in that student’s name? They are leaving a legacy for the next generation of FFA members!

Regardless of how you decide with your chapter how to celebrate your yearly accomplishments, remember that it is OK to change, it’s OK to try something new, it’s OK to be different!

Feeling Overwhelmed as an Ag Teacher? A 4-Step Strategy for Asking for Help

Something has seriously changed in my teacher brain once passing the decade mark in the classroom. 

My to-do List will never be done. And that’s ok!

To be honest, I am not one who needs to check boxes to feel accomplished. I would much rather vision cast and brainstorm new ideas, however I fully understandI that many of my teacher friends (and even my husband) need to get tasks done to finally relax. 

Regardless if you are a Type A check box teacher or a Type B go-with-the-flow, you may have felt the pressure of those tasks needing to get done. And maybe you have even worked yourself to the bone trying to make all the things happen on your own. Why? Because you might think…

• The only way to get it done is to do it myself

• I am the only one who can do this right

• I don’t have time to train someone, so I have to do it

I have BEEN THERE and I’ll be honest it took me a while to realize I didn’t have to feel this way. I didn’t have to feel alone in my classroom, as an advisor, and most specifically with all the tasks on my to-do list. 

If you actually did all the work on an Ag Teacher’s plate by yourself I think it would be a 24 hour/7 days a week/365 days a year job with more work to do. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way if you implement one thing into your career: 

Asking for help. 

But, you might be saying…

• What do I even ask for? 

• What can I even ask for help? 

• What if people say no? 

Those are very valid questions that we have crowdsourced the answers to. Because we get it, asking for help is an acquired taste that a lot of us overachievers hate more than the taste of Vegemite or Robitussin. 

I have suffered alone many a times. 

We all found ourselves at this place…we hit our breaking point of searching through Facebook Groups, TPT, Pinterest Boards and TikTok.

Our turning point was when we decided to SHOW UP. When we decide enough is enough and it’s time to show up for ourselves by seeking the help we need. 

And showing up for yourself and asking for the help you need is vital because SUPPORT ISN’T SENT, IT IS SOUGHT. 

Those good natured teachers, community members and admin  who have said to you “I'm happy to help” “just shoot me a text if you need me.” or “I’m always here to help” don’t know you need help unless you tell them. It isn’t on them to check in on you constantly asking if you need support. It is YOUR job to stand up and say “it’s time, I need help.” 

In this blog post, we’re sharing four steps that you can use as you start utilizing your community to get the help you need. 

4 Steps to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed as an Ag Teacher

Step 1: What do you REALLY need help with?

First things first, what is the monkey on your back right now. What is that thing that you cannot stop thinking about even though you aren’t at school? What is that thing that no matter how much time and effort you put into problem solving you cannot find a solution? You need to name that exact thing before you can ask for help. 

One of the biggest problems with asking for help is the CLARITY of your problem. When we are clear on what we need help with we can be strategic about who we are asking for help. Which leads us to step 2. 

Step 2: WHO Can Help?

Now that you know your problem, start brainstorming who could help you with that problem. Who do you already know that could help you find a solution? 

Here are some ideas to get you going, but remember that during this step you are starting with a name, not a solution.:

• A teacher

• A former mentor

• An administrator

• An ag teacher friend

• An industry contact

• “That person I always text”

Step 3: Can THEY help?

I can already tell that some of you might be stumped on step 2. You might be thinking “if I knew who to ask I would have already done it.” Maybe it is truly you don’t know who could help. Then we need to start thinking about GROUPS of people that might be able to get you connected with the right person. 

Remember for this step you don’t need the exact person to help you solve, just a door to get you to that person. Here are some ideas that might help:

• State Ag Teachers Association

• FFA Staff

• Extension

• Direct support team in your school

• The G&G Team/Community

Step 4: WHAT do I need to ask?

OK, hopefully you have a person or a group that you feel confident asking for help from. Now, we need to get to asking the question. We as ag teachers tend to have our own vocabulary and ways of saying things that might not make sense to others, so this step is imperative so we clearly share our problem. We know that vague problems get vague help BUT specific problems get solved. 

Here are a few sentence frames  that might help you get those specific details out to your identified solution person/group:

• “What’s overwhelming me is ___________. I think this because_______________”

• “I am finding______________ very difficult because______________”

• “I am stuck on _________________ because____________________.”

Once you have completed Steps 1-4 you are READY to reach out to the person/people you want to get assistance from. We absolutely know as teachers ourselves that asking for help can seem daunting. But, what we also know is that you might not be alone in this. Someone out there knows the solution and just doesn’t know you need it. 

Teachers don’t always lack support, they lack clarity about who to ask and what to ask for. This 4 step strategy is your ticket to getting closer to solving your complex problems. As you step into asking for help remember that asking for help isn’t about being less capable, it's about being more precise. 

And if you are looking for specific help in the Agriculture Education space, your first stop to getting connected to experts in our very specialized area is the newly revamped and launched G&G Specialist Roster. You can even add your name to the roster in areas you are an expert to be a help when someone else is in need.

Struggling With SAEs? Practical SAE Ideas and Resources from the G&G Community

At Germinate Conference this year we had one of our favorite new sessions, the Sharing Frenzy. Basically, this looks like teachers grabbing their favorite resources from their teaching arsenal and dumping it into a Google Drive folder for others to use!

This amounts to truly hundreds of resources share in a short amount of time. But, the one thing we noticed about this session is it can get overwhelming how many resources are shared. It reminded me of a Cheescake Factory menu, there is an overwhelming amount of options and you get caught in analysis paralysis and froget to even make a choice. Effectively making these awesome resources stil collecting digital dust when they could truly help others. 

So, as I was sitting around an yet another snowday caused by a large dumping of ice and snow in the mid-atlntic. I thought I could round up some of those ideas and share them with you. 

We tend to get the least amount of resources, Germinate sessions and heck even blogs for G&G in the area of Supervised Agriculture Experiences. So, I think that is the perfect place to start with this little resource round up. 

SAE is that magical part of the Agriculture Education program that other CTE programs don’t have or haven’t perfected. It is something that is integral in all of our programs no matter how different they may be. We as teachers care deeply about the importance of providing students a persoanlized, interest based program for all students regardless of their likelihood of becoming a National Proficency finalist. 

What comes as a side effect of this unique and high personal program is that it is hard to implement. It takes a lot of explaining on the front end to students (and families), time to manage and supervise and let’s not even get to the mania getting those proficiency requirements to hit MET on The AET. 

Let’s try and lessen the load with these few tips shared by the G&G Community

Getting Started: SAE Monopoly

Shared by Breanna Pastir

National FFA has a lesson plan that introduces students to the vast number of SAE opportunities. This allow students to think critically when brainstorming what SAE might be a good fit for them. This lesson includes worksheets for the students, SAE Monopoly cards, and a PPT. Find that whole resource folder here.  

Managing Projects: SAE Folders

Shared by: Jacklyn Post 

“Students get these folders out every Friday for devoted AET journal entry time. In these folders are student login information sheets, AET resources and grading rubrics, SAE final project options, and a weekly AET checklist to help our students stay on top of their records for their projects, time in class, community service, and FFA activities.”

You can actually get all of Jacklyn’s resources in the SAE Hall of Fame Session available on our website for $6. 

Managing Projects: SAE Record Book Template

Shared by Laura Crosby

We know that many FFA chapters utilize The AET for managing SAEs. That is great but not all chapters are able to do that. Laura shared her record book template that she used with her middle schoolers that might be a good start for those of you who want to use something other than the AET. 

Applications: SAE Nights

Shared by a Germinate 2026 Attendee

“We hold SAE/record keeping nights where students can come in as needed to work on records and get help. Usually do at least one near fair nominations time so they can do both at the same time. Parents are always welcome as well and it isn't always just me helping, sometimes it's members helping members.”

Applications: FFA Achievement Week

Shared by Sarah Nerswick, Idea Originated from Red Bluff FFA Chapter

Take a day during FFA week in classes to help students complete and submit their degree applications. In my chapter we have stations for GH, Chapter and State Degree students and had them all do a checklist during their class to get it done. We had advisors in charge of each station along with officers. If you don’t have multiple advisors make sure to have a few students to help as mentors especially for Greenhands. This one day event increased our application numbers for Greenhands, Chapter Degrees, State Degrees and Proficencies tremendously!

Celebrating: SAE Expo

And the SAE Expo was born! The SAE Expo is a large public exhibition of knowledge and skills gained through SAE’s. Students get to choose how they will present their SAEs (speech, demonstration, display board), spend time in class preparing, practice their presentations with classmates and then the BIG EVENT. Students share their skills, successes and plans for their SAE at the SAE Expo. 

Sarah created a one-page to include student instructions and a rubric. Grab your copy here!

You can find out more about the SAE Expo on Episode 139 of the Green & Growing Education Podcast or read this blog post. 

Hopefully these few resources can help jumpstart your SAE program with your students. If you are still struggling with SAEs take a moment to check out the G&G Specialist Roster to connect with an Ag Teacher who is ready and able to help you implement SAEs to the fullest in your classroom.

Why My Current Teaching Role Feels Different Than Past (and What I’d Pay Attention To Going Forward)

I kept on getting the same question over and over again at our holiday events this past year. 

“How is teaching?” Usually made with a slight crinkling of the face and timid nature to their tone. 

Thankfully, I am able to say “Things are going great. I know this was the right decision for me.”

And after all of these conversations, I wanted to figure out what the underlying reason is. What is the “thing” that is making teaching feel awesome when less than 4 years ago I thought I was leaving it behind forever? 

And to be honest, it isn’t just one thing. 

It is a combination of a variety of things that deeply matter to me. And yes that includes my compensation. It made me think that I wish I had a road map of how to make a decision about accepting a teaching position so I could have avoided some bad moves in the past. 

So here you have it.

Why My Current Teaching Role Feels Different Than Past (and What I’d Pay Attention To Going Forward) 

The Commute

If you have ever driven a commute more than 30 minutes you know. You know that taking an hour plus in the car is absolutely no fun. Now, don’t get me wrong I LOVE a decompressing moment. Those sacred moments when it is quick after a long day hearing your name a minimum of 187 times, where you get to choose if you want complete silence, an audiobook, a podcast or your favorite music. That time is awesome. But the car time gets excessive after 30 minutes. 

The Pay

(Caveat: I understand that some of you live in rural areas with limited education opportunities. Skip the first part of this and think about the second!)

Part 1: School Districts Pay Differently

As I was in the process of deciding if I wanted to go back to teaching I immediately pulled out the teaching salary schedules. I was really thinking about going back to my old district until I looked at that salary schedule. I would be taking a pay cut. Not worth it. My whole goal of changing my job was to find a better suited role and that ABSOLUTELY includes pay.

Now, I totally understand there isn’t much we can do with set salary schedules. But you CAN shop around if there are districts closer to you. I am in a more urban area and have 5 county/city districts within a decent commuting distance. 

So, I pulled them all up based on my experience and education and there was a CLEAR winner. I was able to get an immediate 17k pay raise just by taking a job at a district with higher pay.  

Now, pay is JUST PART OF THE PUZZLE! If you are commuting 2 hrs both ways to a higher paying district you might lose all the increase in pay with car depreciation, gas and maybe tolls (not mentioning your mental health from being in the car that much). 

Part 2: Other Paid Positions

If you don’t have the luxury to shop around districts (believe me I know it is a luxury), there are other ways to increase your pay. 

The obvious ones are getting a higher degree, taking a leadership position in your school, or even moving to an administration job. 

There are other ways to also increase your pay by coaching a team or advising a club (based on your system’s rules). I think it is important to know that you can increase your pay if you are willing (and able) to think outside the box. 

Content

If you have ever been out of your depth teaching a subject you better believe that content matters when choosing a teaching job. 

If you are applying for a horticulture heavy teaching position and you hate plants, that might not be the job for you. If you have to manage a show team and you have no livestock experience, that might not be the job for you. If you love middle school and you apply for a high school job, that might not be the job for you. 

Now, I get it that going out of your comfort zone is important for personal growth. But I also know that there is a sweet spot when learning something new. It’s called the Zone of Proximal Development. Where the learning isn’t too easy it is boring, and not too hard it is out of reach. 

As a teacher entering a new school/district you are ALREADY on a learning curve. You have to learn about the LMS, the student management system, grading policy, discipline policy, and not to mention the intricacies of the staff and admin relationships. 

Throwing yourself in the deep end with that heavy load on top of learning a new content (or multiple) might just be the perfect combination for burnout. 

Try to make sure you are applying for positions that align with your strengths and passions when it comes to content. Experienced teachers all know that it is much easier to teach the classes that you know and like. And anything to make the job a little easier is a win. 

The Duty Times

At the last school I taught at, I had to leave my house before 6 a.m. to arrive almost on two wheels before my duty time started. No buffer for picking up coffee or extra planning before 1st period busted through my classroom door. 

It was ROUGH. I didn’t get to see my children or husband before school as they were peacefully sleeping as I tip-toed out the door. And that took a HUGE mental health hit for me. I felt like I was always rushing. And when you start your day before 6am feeling behind, it is really hard to turn that negative feeling around. 

Knowing those expected duty times for teachers is essential before signing your contract. In conjunction with your commute and your family/personal responsibilities that could really make or break your relationship with your job. 

Maybe you gotta get your kids to before care.

Maybe you have to walk your dog who is going to be alone all day.

Maybe you have to get to the gym for a workout in the a.m. 

Whatever it is, that needs to be part of your decision. 

When I took my current position, I knew I couldn’t get my son to his bus on time. So my husband had to take on that role. Thankfully we are still able to all enjoy the morning together, we just go separate ways as we walk out the door. And we will reevaluate every year as things change. 

The Staff/Admin

The people you work with matter. I have been at four different schools and two different companies outside of school. And let me tell you, when you have toxic people around you it makes the job more difficult. When you have great people working with you, it makes the job more fun. 

If you get a weird vibe from the admin in the interview, it might be a sign. If you realize 6 months in that the staff is caddy and drama filled, it might be time to brush up your resume. 

You are spending 8 hours a day with these people. It is an awesome feeling that I know when I walk into 1st period I will have a great interaction with my fellow teachers/paras. I know that 3rd period will include a fun discussion with the teacher down the hall. It makes the days more enjoyable. 

We know that humans are wired for community. Your work community matters. Now, some people live their lives as robots and could care less about the people they work with. I am not that person. The people matter and twice in my working career I KNEW I had to get out and I did. Even if I wasn’t sure what was next I took myself out of the situation. 

Protect your peace, your mental health, your sanity. 

Feeling Accomplished

When trying to grapple with my feelings about teaching now, I realized that accomplishment is part of my puzzle for feeling content in my job. 

I was talking to an old friend who was also a teacher and spent many years in education adjacent careers and she asked me how that classroom was. And it finally clicked. 

I told her that in other jobs outside of the classroom when I finished the work day I felt relieved. That was my dominant emotion. These days when I leave my school I feel accomplished. 

Every. Single. Day. 

And it isn’t from winning awards like Teacher of the Month or having my students all pass a quiz. It is from the little things. Having my class laugh with me as we do interpretive dance to model a complex concept. It is when students talk to me in Spanish so I can improve. It is when I have kids asking to have lunch with me. It is when I get a kid to laugh. It is when I get to be the person who makes that kid feel valued. 

Every day I get to feel accomplished. Regardless of how the day actually went. And that means something to me. Personally, I need to feel that. Maybe it’s the way I am wired. 

All of this to say, everyone's situation is different. I know that some of you reading this won’t connect with some of the points, and that is OK. 

The overarching point I want to make is that the decision you make when you sign your teaching contract isn’t one to be taken lightly. It is more than just picking the school with the best FFA chapter, best pay, closest to your home. It is finding the best combination that works for you in your current situation. 

That might change. I left a job I absolutely loved because my family situation changed and we needed to move. I wish I had a blog post like this to have helped me avoid a bad job situation when I moved. I am hopeful this is that thing for someone else.