For Teachers and School Faculty and Staff

Monday is the first day of school in Baltimore County, where I teach. As teachers, counselors, administrators and other school faculty and staff, we have such a huge responsibility to not only do our jobs well, but to care for people well in the process. We spend more time with our students than their parents do, so it's really important that students feel like we truly do care about them and parents feel like we truly do care about their children. Did I mention that it's a huge responsibility? Well it is, as well as a beautiful burden. But if we take on that responsibility and burden, and do the best we can, day in and day out, the rewards can have an impact for generations to come.

The following is my prayer for all of us this school year :
-That we would create an environment in our classrooms and in our schools where students felt safe, heard, seen, important, and cared for and parents feel confident in the safety and care of their children

-That we would get to know each student and their strengths and weaknesses so we can customize learning to meet their individual, unique needs.

-That we would be kind, respectful teammates and colleagues to one another, being slower to speak and quicker to listen.

-That we would take whatever measures we need to take care of ourselves. We can't pour out to others if our well is empty.

May we walk into our schools on that first day confident in the abilities and knowledge that we have and inspired to make a difference in the lives of students each day.