The Present Teacher Blog

Learn the systems to confidently leave at contract time so you can thrive in and out of the classroom.

Why You’re Being Judged for Setting Boundaries as a Teacher teacher burnout teacher time management Feb 19, 2026

I remember the first time I was openly judged for setting a boundary as a teacher, and the moment is still crystal clear in my mind because of how uncomfortable it felt.

Administration was looking fo...

You Were Trained to Feel Guilty for Leaving on Time teacher burnout teacher time management Feb 19, 2026

I still remember the first month I started consistently leaving at contract time.

It felt almost rebellious.

Every day, I packed up at the bell.
Closed my laptop.
Turned off my classroom lights.
Wal...

The Biggest Lie Teachers Are Taught About Hard Work teacher burnout teacher time management Feb 19, 2026

I worked day and night.

I stayed late.
I brought work home.
I planned for hours.
I sacrificed weekends.

And my student test scores still suffered.

That was the wake-up call.

Hard work and long hou...

Burnout Isn’t a Time-Management Problem, It’s a Nervous System Problem teacher burnout teacher time management Feb 19, 2026

I will never forget the year I had all the systems in place to let teaching be easy…

And I still self-sabotaged.

I had streamlined lesson planning.
I knew exactly which procedures to teach.
I could ...

What “That Teacher Next Door” Actually Does Differently teacher burnout teacher time management Feb 19, 2026

I still remember the first “That Teacher” I ever ran into.

I share this story in Chapter 1 of my book.

She left at contract time.
Never brought work home.
Had amazing classroom management.
Stayed ah...

Teacher Work-Life Balance Isn’t a Myth — It’s a Mindset Shift teacher burnout teacher time management Feb 19, 2026

I still remember the day I was standing in my kitchen while my husband made dinner.

We were talking about our days.

And then I completely zoned out.

Not because I didn’t care.
Not because I wasn’t ...

When I first came up with the desire to leave at contract time as a new teacher I felt incredibly guilty. I thought that in order to be a good teacher I had to work a lot of hours and really hard. But over the years I have found systems that have worked for me and the teachers that I coach to consistently get us out the door WHILE being weeks ahead in lesson planning and prepping. Well today I am diving into my top reasons why leaving at contract time makes you a better teacher. PLUS I am diving into the strategies my clients and I use to consistently get out the door work-free WITHOUT feeling guilty. Get a peek behind-the-scenes on the weekly schedule I use, the mindset shifts I've made, which teacher tasks I prioritize on a weekly basis, the systems I use to get weeks ahead, the boundaries I set, and the reminders I give myself that have allowed me to get out the door around contract time for the past 5 years.

Why Leaving at Contract Time Makes You a Better Teacher (and How to Do It Guilt-Free) teacher time management Mar 02, 2025

Earlier this month, I shared why overworking doesn’t make you a good teacher. Today, I want to take that conversation further and explain why leaving at contract time actually makes you a better teach...

Today I am diving into what I do the first 15-minutes I come into school and what I do the last 15-minutes after school that has allowed me to consistently leave close to contract time for the past 5 years. Get a sneak peek on which administrative tasks I do daily, how I respond to emails, and how I prep for tomorrow's lesson in a way that allows me to show up confident and with a positive attitude each morning.

Your First 15 Minutes & Last 15 Minutes: How to Structure Your Day to Leave at Contract Time teacher time management Feb 23, 2025

As teachers, we know how chaotic our days can get—whether it's the morning rush or the desire to finish up at contract time. But what if you could use just 15 minutes at both the beginning and end of ...

One of the top questions I get asked is 'how do I automate my classroom?' Well today I'm talking about one of the MAIN strategies I myself and the teachers I have coached have used to make our classrooms run on autopilot. And that is utilizing classroom routines. Classroom routines is one of my top strategies to consistently leaving at contract time as a new or first-year teacher. Inside this video we are diving into which classroom routines I set up in my classroom and how you can do the same. Making consistently leaving work on time in the first few years of your teaching career a breeze. We'll be talking about classroom routines like my classroom end-of-the-day procedure, what my weekly schedule looks like during my prep, how I organize my materials and how I KEEP things organized on a daily basis, what my coming in and leaving for the day routine looks like, and what I schedule out throughout the week to keep my life easier.

The Secret to Leaving at Contract Time: Setting Up Classroom Routines that Run Themselves teacher time management Feb 16, 2025

As a teacher, the feeling of finishing the day and heading out the door at contract time can often feel like a distant dream. Between student dismissal, cleaning up, grading, and prepping for tomorrow...

It's easy to believe that as a new or first-year teacher you have to work hours and hours after contract time to be a good teacher. But the truth is, that's simply not true. Today we are diving into the top reasons WHY overworking won't make you a better teacher. Plus we dive into teacher time management strategies on what you can do instead. We cover strategies like preventing teacher burnout by getting clear on your definition of what a good teacher is and how to take action once you set a boundary in the classroom.

Why Overworking Won't Make You a Better Teacher—And What to Do Instead teacher time management Feb 12, 2025

As teachers, we often feel like we have to put in extra hours to be effective. Staying late, grading until midnight, and spending weekends lesson planning can feel like the price we pay for being "goo...

MINDSET MONDAY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Want Helpful Tips For New And First-Year Teachers Every Week?

LEt us know here you want us to send the free tips to by entering your info below.

You're safe with me. I'll never spam you or sell your contact info.

The Present Teacher Blog

MINDSET MONDAY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Want Helpful Tips For New And First-Year Teachers Every Week?

Join The FREE Challenge