Dear Teacher

This is a letter to you, from the perspective of how you should be treated, spoken to, acknowledged and loved. 

I hope this letter finds you well but it probably finds you buried amidst a pile of incomplete tasks, stress and every growing responsibilities. 

I wanted to pause and say these things to you today because I know that you may be feeling like you aren’t doing enough. And your environment has caused you to internalize that to the point where you feel like you are not enough.

This is false. 

You are enough.

In fact, you are more than enough. 

Every day you are showing up and doing your best, and if you don’t have “best” in you, you’re still doing what you can. 

You are valuable and important. Your strengths, talents and abilities would blow people away. 

I understand that it can be difficult to shake off feelings of self-doubt, but I want to remind you that you are truly doing the best you can with what you have. 

And that this is not what you signed up for. 

When you became a teacher, you had no idea that you would spend your planning periods subbing for other classes. You had no idea the sense of dread that would fill you when you open your email app at night. You had no idea how many snacks you would buy for your students. 

It's important to remember that you are not alone in feeling this way. These conditions are not what you signed up for. 

As teachers, it is so hard to take care of yourself, both emotionally and physically. Try to treat yourself the way you would treat/ speak to a new teacher. Take that approach of care, patience and encouragement toward your own wellbeing. 

Remember that it's okay to ask for help and support when you need it.

You are not the problem. This is not what you signed up for. I see you; I admire you, and I know the struggle. 

With love and support,

Your kind and compassionate self