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Meeting new students
Teachers are tasked with building relationships from scratch while learning the strengths, challenges, and personalities of every student in the room.
Setting a Positive Learning Environment
Summer is a perfect time for educators to refresh their minds and spark joy by reconnecting with activities they love—reading or joining a book club, taking an art class, gardening, swimming, baking, traveling, camping, or exploring nature. These are just a few things you can do to indulge in creativity.
Balancing Work and Well-Being
Lesson planning, grading, parent communication, and extra duties quickly fill the calendar. At the same time, teachers are trying to manage personal responsibilities outside of school.
Performance Expectations
Whether from standardized testing goals, administrator evaluations, or self-imposed standards, teachers often feel they must prove themselves early in the year.
Anxiety can show up in different ways—racing thoughts before bed, feeling physically tense in the classroom, irritability with colleagues or students, or doubting one’s ability to handle the year ahead. This anxiety is not a sign of incompetence; it is a natural reaction to high stakes, uncertainty, and heavy workloads.
While it may be impossible to eliminate first-day or first-week jitters, teachers can take proactive steps to reduce the intensity of back-to-school anxiety:
Performance Expectations
Focusing on building rapport with students before perfecting every lesson plan can set a positive tone and reduce pressure.
Set Manageable Goals
Identify two or three priorities for the first quarter rather than trying to implement every idea at once.
Use Support Systems
Fellow teachers, mentors, and professional learning communities can all offer reassurance, share resources, and provide a sense of solidarity.
Practice Self-Regulation Techniques
Deep breathing, prayer pauses, and short walks during the day can help manage stress in real time.
Establish Your Boundaries the First Day of School
Create clear limits for after-hours work to protect rest and recovery time.
T
he start of a new school year is often portrayed as a time of fresh beginnings—neatly organized classrooms, new bulletin boards, and new opportunities for growth. For educators, however, that “new beginning” can be just as nerve-wracking as it is exciting. Beneath the smiles and warm welcomes, many educators quietly battle heightened anxiety during the first weeks of school.
challenge
Evelyn Sullivan, M.Ed.
Director of Early Childhood Education and R.E.A.C.H.
A New School Year Can Heighten Anxiety in Educators
The new school year will always bring a measure of nervous anticipation. But that same energy that fuels anxiety can be redirected into enthusiasm and motivation. With realistic expectations, supportive networks, and intentional self-care, teachers can navigate the challenges of a new school year while holding onto the joy of shaping your students’ minds.
Anxiety may be part of the journey, but it does not have to define it. For many teachers, those first-day butterflies eventually give way to confidence, connection, and the deep satisfaction of watching students grow from day one to year’s end. Remember to put all your trust in the Lord, and He will give you the insight you need to reduce any anxiety you may encounter. I challenge you to turn your anxiety into new opportunities for growth.
Why the New School Year Brings Pressure
Recognizing Anxiety in Educators
Strategies to Ease the Transition
Turning Anxiety into Energy
FALL 2025
