I’m still adjusting to getting up early, cooler mornings, and the rapid pace of the school day. There is no time to slow down. I run until I’m exhausted, but there must be a better way. My younger colleagues look to me for sage advice. How do I put work/life balance into practice? My answer: very haphazardly. I sporadically start my days with meditation, yoga, and a mid-morning cup of tea alone in my cozy office. But in reality, an endless, growing to-do list keeps me frantically trying to check things off, feeling more and more like Sisyphus. One day that giant boulder is sure to crush me, and I cannot let that happen!
Month: September 2026
Strengthening School Community
The beginning of school is tricky to navigate for both students and teachers, and for students with a learning difference, moving through a new school day can be stressful. I keep that top of mind when I interact with children. I stop, pause, and listen to them. I troubleshoot problems with them. I encourage them to take risks and keep on going.
Connection: Only One You!
Now, while I may not work with all of them directly, I do make sure I know their names and find out a little bit about each one of them. This means that my brain is on overdrive in September, and I have to remind myself to slow down and really connect – connect with faculty, students, and their parents. This means meeting with faculty and parents to discuss the best support paths for many students. This also means connecting with students. I spend the first few weeks of school inviting myself into classrooms, reacquainting myself with our students and getting to know new ones.
