The Present Teacher Blog

When I became a first-year teacher, I did what so many teachers do.

I started with the fun stuff.

My classroom had a travel theme.

I spent weeks creating decorations.

Bulletin boards.

Labels.

Cu...

Some of my favorite teaching memories didn't happen inside a classroom.

They happened in Cancun.

At a lake cabin in Idaho.

Over coffee with friends.

Curled up on the couch reading an entire book s...

If I asked you to describe yourself as a teacher, how much of your answer would come from last year?

Maybe you'd say you struggled with classroom management.

Maybe you'd remember the observation tha...

With back to school fast approaching, it's easy to feel like you're behind.

You look at your classroom.

You look at your to-do list.

You look at the calendar.

And suddenly it feels like there aren...

So often, I see incredible teachers leave the profession.

Not because they weren’t good enough.
Not because they didn’t care enough.

But because they were in the wrong environment.

And honestly?

T...

Here’s something no one says out loud:

Not every school deserves you.

And I know that might feel uncomfortable to hear…

Because you’ve probably been taught the opposite.

Break the People-Pleasing ...

If you’ve ever thought:

“They didn’t hire me because I don’t have enough experience…”

We need to talk.

Because it’s not that districts won’t hire you because you’re new.

It’s that you might be und...

If you’ve ever been asked at the end of an interview:

“Do you have any questions for us?”

And you’ve said…

“No, I think you covered everything.”

We need to talk.

Because that moment?

Is one of t...

If you’ve ever Googled:

“buzzwords principals are looking for in an interview…”

We need to talk.

Because what you think is helping you stand out…

Is actually causing you to blend in.

The Most Com...

You could be saying all the right things in your interview…

Giving strong answers.
Smiling.
Prepared.

And still not getting the job.

Why?

Because it’s not just about what you say.

It’s about how ...

Every teacher hiring season, I get the same message:

“I’ve applied to 30+ schools and nobody has hired me… what gives?”

And I get it.

Because on paper?

You’re doing everything right.

You’re:

• u...

Let me tell you something that might surprise you:

The teachers getting multiple job offers…
aren’t the ones sending out the most applications.

They’re not applying to 30+ districts.
They’re not hus...