Not ready for summer to end?

Are you #FullyCharged?

For educators, the summer is a lot of things. It is a time to grow, reflect, and learn. It is also, more importantly, a time to relax, re-connect with family and friends, get fit, and enjoy some down time.

One of the things I have learned recently is back-to-school time is not for everyone. I mean this sincerely. Just because I already have excited butterflies in my stomach and it is not August 1st yet makes me no better an educator than someone who dreads the first day of school because it means they lose their time to be a mom, dad, friend, tinkerer, triathlete or whatever else fills them up during the summer.

Going back to school sincerely bums out some awesome educators. We must wrap our heads around this concept.

It took me over a decade in the profession to understand this and now I feel like I need to shout it out as loud as I can because I believe it is lost on so many people. Particularly, it is lost on other educators that cast judgmental looks or assume someone does not love their job because August fills them with anxiety and angst. Often times nothing could be further from the truth. Life is not binary. Dreading going back to school does not mean you do not love your job or ooze passion for kids. Life, and humans, are much more nuanced than this.

The truth may be that someone passionately loves being a teacher, but that falls a distant second to being a dad and spending all day everyday with their kids (in this case the educator probably does not have teenagers). The truth may be that change is hard for some people to handle regardless of how excited about the change they may be. Or – most likely – there is some combination of things going on that combine to make returning to school emotionally difficult. The reason someone may not be PUMPED to return to school simply does not matter.

My advice is simple:

1) If this is you and August isn’t the best – do not feel ashamed or embarrassed. Feeling like this is no indication of the passion you have for education or the quality of educator that you are. Keep your head up.

2) If you are excited and cannot wait to get back to school — let that light shine. But do not let it shine in a way that seeks to make others that are not as excited feel ‘less’ than you.

3) Don’t judge. This goes for everyone. If you are bummed about going back to school and Mrs. Smith is pumped – it does not mean she does not love her family. Conversely, if you are jacked up for opening day and someone isn’t – employ some empathy and help them get through. Soon enough everyone will be back to the grind.

Deploy empathy and patience with those you work with – quite frankly – you should always do so – but perhaps it is even more important as back-to-school season returns.

For me – I have found what energizes and excited me. It is simple and it is nerdy. I re-energize and get excited for school by reading and writing. If you have enjoyed this blog – check out some of my other writing I have produced this summer below.

ASCD blog on time management: http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol13/1321-caposey.aspx

Jrney.org blog on empathy: http://www.jrney.org/blog/2018/7/5/empathy-is-exhausting

EdWeek Blog with Larry Ferlazzo: https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2018/07/response_central_offices_shouldnt_be_directive_arms.html

THE Journal – video observations https://thejournal.com/articles/2018/07/24/how-to-plan-and-run-a-pilot-for-video-driven-teacher-observation.aspx

Author page: https://www.amazon.com/P.-J.-Caposey/e/B00DVY1BMI