The Doors Behind the Bells

Teachers, You Are Not the Only One Who Feels Different When Someone Is Watching.
Kimberly Lester 9 min read
Teachers, You Are Not the Only One Who Feels Different When Someone Is Watching.

Why can years of teaching experience suddenly feel like they disappear when someone walks into your classroom to observe? By...

Your Planning Period Is Not Spare Time.
Kimberly Lester 10 min read
Your Planning Period Is Not Spare Time.

Teacher planning time is already limited. Here's why schools should protect the time that remains for the work of planning...

Giving Students Grace Cannot Mean Removing Accountability.
Kimberly Lester 8 min read
Giving Students Grace Cannot Mean Removing Accountability.

Giving students grace matters. But grace and accountability can exist together. Here's why students need both from the adults who...

Teachers, You Are Not the Only One Who Switches All Day and Finishes Nothing.
Kimberly Lester 6 min read
Teachers, You Are Not the Only One Who Switches All Day and Finishes Nothing.

What's happening when you work all day and somehow haven't finished a single thing. By Kim Lester ______________________________________________________________________________________ Someone walks...

Teachers, You Are Not the Only One Who Doesn't Care Anymore.
Kimberly Lester 5 min read
Teachers, You Are Not the Only One Who Doesn't Care Anymore.

You catch yourself thinking it and the thought surprises you. "I just don't care anymore." About something at school you used to care deeply about.

Good Teachers Don't Leave Without Warning. Schools Just Aren't Listening.
Kimberly Lester 7 min read
Good Teachers Don't Leave Without Warning. Schools Just Aren't Listening.

Good teachers don't leave without warning. They tell schools what's wrong. The problem? Schools aren't listening until she hands in...

Teachers, Your Memory Isn't the Problem. Your Capacity Is.
Kimberly Lester 5 min read
Teachers, Your Memory Isn't the Problem. Your Capacity Is.
You're sharp at school and foggy at home. It's not your memory. It's what your memory has been carrying all day.
Recruitment Fills Vacancies. Retention Protects What Matters.
Kimberly Lester 7 min read
Recruitment Fills Vacancies. Retention Protects What Matters.

Not every teacher who leaves should have stayed. But schools have responsibility for the ones who should. The difference between...

Teachers, You Are Not Failing.
Kimberly Lester 5 min read
Teachers, You Are Not Failing.

What's happening when you've made it through four weeks and you're questioning everything about being a teacher. By Kim Lester...

Caring for Teachers Is Part of Caring for Kids
Kimberly Lester 6 min read
Caring for Teachers Is Part of Caring for Kids

"Do what's best for kids" should guide school decisions, not silence teacher concerns about workload, resources, and sustainable support. By...

Teachers, You're Not the Only One Who Gets Home and Cries.
Kimberly Lester 6 min read
Teachers, You're Not the Only One Who Gets Home and Cries.

What's happening when you walk through the door and something just breaks. By Kim Lester You get home from school...

If Everything Is Non-Negotiable, Nothing Is.
Kimberly Lester 6 min read
If Everything Is Non-Negotiable, Nothing Is.

If Everything Is Non-Negotiable, Nothing Is. By Kim Lester Teachers, we're about three weeks into school, so I'm guessing you've...

Teachers, You're Not the Only One Who Gets Home and Doesn't Want to Be Needed.
Kimberly Lester 6 min read
Teachers, You're Not the Only One Who Gets Home and Doesn't Want to Be Needed.

What's happening when you walk through the door and the people you love ask one more thing. By Kim Lester...

Your Personal Cell Number Won't Protect You. Boundaries Will.
Kimberly Lester 7 min read
Your Personal Cell Number Won't Protect You. Boundaries Will.

Teachers, somebody's gotta say this. By Kim Lester Week 2 of school is when the conversation about parent communication starts....