This school year, I felt a lot.
It was like bowling. I showed up each day and gave it my all. I aimed for that perfect strike each time.
As I reflect on my experiences this year, I know not every bowling ball hit its mark. Some days felt like a solid spare. Others? A complete gutterball.
Still, I kept going – frame by frame, day by day.
As I wrap up this year and reflect on what truly mattered, I’m walking away with three powerful lessons:
- Boundaries Matter … so I can be sustainable.
With each year, I am getting better at setting boundaries between work and personal life. It is a practice I will continue to grow with. Setting boundaries allows me to be present for my students and team each day.
2. Progress Matters … so I can keep being my best for students.
Some mistakes were made. But the beauty of teaching is that there is always another frame, another day, to try again. Each “miss” forced me to learn how to better reach and support students.
3. The Arts Matters … so I can spark creativity in my students and myself.
Whether it was planning a themed literacy day, facilitating student projects, or simply rethinking a lesson through an equity lens—those creative sparks made the hard days brighter.
No, this year was not a perfect game.
But it was real, meaningful, and full of growth.
And for me, that’s more than enough.
What are your three lessons from this year? What matters to you the most?
