As this year comes to a close, I find myself thinking back on the moments that shaped 2025 in ways I did not expect. What started as a simple desire to reconnect with classrooms slowly grew into something much more meaningful. Each visit, each conversation, each glimpse into the rhythm of school life reminded me why I care so deeply about this work.
I didn’t set out to make big changes this year, but looking back, I can see how every small step tugged me a little closer to the heart of teaching again.
A Spark of Inspiration at the GYTO Teacher Conference
At the start of the year, I felt a nudge to do something small that would bring me closer to the heart of teaching again. So I began volunteering to read to classes. That simple act of showing up with a stack of picture books stirred something in me. I forgot how alive a room feels when you sit on the carpet, open a book, and watch students lean in. I forgot how much joy comes from sharing stories with kids who are fully present and curious. Those volunteer visits were like a spark that I didn’t realize I needed.
Then came Get Your Teach On. I walked in expecting to take notes, cheer on friends, and enjoy being part of the energy. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I would be moved. The teachers who attended taught me much more than I could ever teach them. Their passion, their creativity, and the way they show up for students every single day reminded me why I fell in love with education in the first place.
The workshops I sat in were bursting with ideas, but more than anything, they made me want to get my hands dirty again. I left feeling inspired to reconnect with classrooms in a real and consistent way.
Becoming a Substitute Teacher
That inspiration led to something I never saw coming. I made the decision to start subbing. It felt like the next step in getting closer to the classroom heartbeat again. What I did not anticipate was just how hard the transition would be. I knew it would stretch me, but I was not prepared for how disorienting it would feel to step into unfamiliar routines, different expectations, and classrooms that were not my own.
My confidence was nowhere to be found, and all the things I thought I knew suddenly felt fuzzy.
If I am being honest, my very first sub assignment was a complete flop. There is no gentle way to say it. It was rough. I left that day feeling embarrassed, defeated, and questioning if this was a terrible idea. I remember sitting in my car afterward just thinking that maybe I was not cut out for this. It felt heavy to try something new and not be good at it.
But after some conversations with friends and a lot of reflection, I knew I owed it to myself to try again. I made a few key adjustments. I lowered the unrealistic expectations I had set for myself. I reminded myself that being new is uncomfortable for everyone. I accepted that mistakes were going to happen. And most importantly, I gave myself permission to show up as me, not the polished version of who I thought I should be.
One unexpected lifeline during those early weeks was leaning on the very resources I have created over the years.
I pulled out my picture books and used some of my own lessons because they gave me something steady to hold onto. When everything else felt unfamiliar, those tools reminded me that I do know how to teach and I do know how to connect with kids.
Little by little, things began to shift. I grew braver. I learned how to be flexible without losing myself. I started having more wins than flops. I walked into classrooms with more peace and less pressure. And with every new day in a school, I began to feel that same warm familiarity that made me love teaching years ago.
What 2025 Taught Me
Looking back, 2025 was a year of rediscovery. It was messy, encouraging, exhausting, joyful, surprising, and filled with moments that stretched me in ways I did not expect. It reminded me of the importance of saying yes to things that scare you a little. It reminded me that growth rarely shows up wrapped in comfort. It reminded me of the strength, resilience, and brilliance of teachers who do this work every single day.
Most of all, it reminded me that the classroom will always be one of my favorite places to be.
If you had a year filled with big emotions, surprises, hard days, and beautiful moments, you are not alone. I am cheering for you as you close out this year and step into whatever comes next.
