The other day I was talking to a first-year teacher who was questioning whether they were really cut out for teaching. They were exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if their students deserved someone better.

I have such a soft spot for new teachers at this time of year—because I’ve been there. I remember asking myself the exact same questions during my first year. Today, I want to share with you what I told that teacher, and what I wish someone had told me back then.

Normalize It

Here’s the truth: almost every teacher has felt that way at some point. The veteran teacher down the hall. The educator you look up to on Instagram. The mentor who seems to have it all together.

They’ve all questioned themselves. They’ve all had those “Am I good enough?” moments.

If they could walk through the doubt and become the amazing teachers they are today, so can you. You’re not alone—and you’re not failing. This is part of the journey.

My Story

During my first year of teaching, behavior was on the rise in my classroom. I felt like I was stopping lessons every two minutes to redirect. My students were performing poorly on tests. I was the first car in the parking lot and the last to leave.

Every night, I’d collapse on the couch and wonder: Am I really cut out for this? Do my students deserve someone better?

I was giving it my all, but it felt like my best still wasn’t enough.

What Helped Me

What turned things around wasn’t magic—it was building systems. And I did it one step at a time.

• Classroom Management: I started with routines and expectations until my students could run the classroom without me micromanaging.
  
  
• Communication: Families began raving about my classroom once I set up clear communication systems.
  
  
• Organization: I no longer spent hours digging through resources. Everything was streamlined and easy to find.
  
  
• Grading: Instead of pulling all-nighters before report cards, I learned strategies to grade and return work within the week.
  
  
• Planning & Prepping: I stopped planning the day of and got weeks ahead. Suddenly, teaching felt lighter.
  
  

Before I knew it, teaching became fun. And I’ll be honest—I felt guilty at first. It almost felt too easy. But that’s what systems do. They free you up to focus on the parts of teaching that matter most.

Encouragement

If you’re questioning whether you’re “good enough,” hear me when I say: you are here for a reason. You became a teacher for a reason. And your students were placed in your care for a reason.

You’re doing better than you think.

One day, your future self is going to look back and thank you for sticking it out through this messy, figuring-it-out stage. You’ll see how it all added up to shape the teacher you were meant to be.

Wrap Up

So when doubt creeps in, remember:

• Normalize it: Every teacher questions themselves at some point.
  
  
• My story: I’ve been there too.
  
  
• What helped me: Systems saved my teaching.
  
  
• Encouragement: You’re doing better than you think.
  
  

You are enough. You always have been.

Next Steps for Teachers

If you’re ready to start building the systems that will help you thrive:

• The Present Teacher Circle – Get the tools, strategies, and community support you need to simplify teaching and feel confident in the classroom.
  
  
• Book Waitlist – Join the waitlist for my upcoming book, where I dive deeper into these systems and how to make teaching sustainable.