The Doors Behind the Bells

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....

New Teachers, You're Not Behind. You're Learning.
Kimberly Lester 8 min read
New Teachers, You're Not Behind. You're Learning.

Why a veteran teacher can prep her classroom in three hours while you're still learning how to do it. By...

We've Normalized Solving Systemic Neglect With Personal Sacrifice
Kimberly Lester 6 min read
We've Normalized Solving Systemic Neglect With Personal Sacrifice

Teachers, somebody's gotta say this. By Kim Lester Somewhere along the way, spending part of Saturday getting ready for Monday...

Teachers, Why Pre-Planning Feels Like Drinking From a Fire Hose
Kimberly Lester 8 min read
Teachers, Why Pre-Planning Feels Like Drinking From a Fire Hose

What's actually happening when your brain can't keep up during pre-planning week. By Kim Lester It's Monday of pre-planning week...

Teachers, Your Stomach Tightens Before August Even Arrives
Kimberly Lester 10 min read
Teachers, Your Stomach Tightens Before August Even Arrives

What is actually happening when back-to-school season still feels like an emergency, even though you're still technically on summer break....

Teachers, You Cannot Win. And Nobody Is Talking About What That Costs You.
Kimberly Lester 5 min read
Teachers, You Cannot Win. And Nobody Is Talking About What That Costs You.

What happens when you give everything to other people's children and nobody notices what you are missing. By Kim Lester...