Back-to-School Advice from K-12 Outreach’s Education Experts
It is not uncommon for one to find themselves with a relentless case of hiccups, in a sticky situation with gum in their hair, or feeling exhausted after a hard day. By asking around, seeking out insights from family members or friends, or conducting a quick search online, countless people have relieved the spasms in their diaphragm causing their hiccups, saved their hair from an emergency cut, or found solace in someone else’s wise words. Whether via an article with “life hacks” or the advice of a philosopher, this recycling and sharing of information has been a practice for centuries.
Just as folks need advice navigating turbulence in everyday life, people frequently need advice for the return to classes each fall. In the spirit of back-to-school season, this month’s edition of In Focus features some of the Office of K-12 Outreach’s Outreach Specialists and their advice for the 2024-25 school year. As many readers have a role in education, K-12 Outreach hopes that compiling this knowledge can help observers start the new year with fresh ideas, mantras, and strategies. The Outreach Specialists quoted in this article have personally worked with or held multiple positions in schools, so the knowledge they share varies from inspirational quotes to actionable tips in the classroom.
“We’ve all heard the adage that ‘children don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’ [former President Theodore Roosevelt]. In practice, this means spending the majority of the first two weeks of school getting to know your students, building relationships, and collectively establishing routines and expectations. The curriculum can wait. Students will be more ready to accelerate their own learning once a strong foundation has been set for relationships with you as their teacher and with their classmates. Next, Gandhi said, ‘A sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have, but how many leaders you create.’ See yourself as a facilitator of learning and empowering your students to take individual and collective responsibility for themselves and their classmates’ learning. Offering multiple avenues for input and cyclical feedback will foster a sense of ownership in students. Students should know what’s expected, where they are, and where they are going.”
Dr. Bryan Beverly, Director of the Office of K-12 Outreach
“Abolitionist, orator, and author Frederick Douglass once said, ‘It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.’ As a teacher, you wield immense power—never underestimate the profound impact you have on shaping the growth and development of children.”
Dr. Jamii Hitchcock, Outreach Specialist
“With the opening of school, I always revisit a phrase that I heard years ago: ‘The most important thing any community can perform is in its education of its youth.’”
Dr. Michael Ferguson, Outreach Specialist
“If the chance to work with a trained, experienced instructional or leadership coach presents itself, embrace the opportunity without hesitation. That one decision will position you to avoid relying on simplistic, short-term fixes and, instead, begin the process of thinking deeply about your work and what you want to achieve.”
Shirley Jackson, Outreach Specialist
“Find an opportunity to recognize any positives that you see, especially with those students (or staff, if you’re an administrator) that might become more challenging. For example, you have those students coming into your classroom that you’ve heard have challenging behaviors or struggle academically and lack confidence. Find, search for, the moment that you can shower them with praise and CALL HOME! Share the celebration with the parents or guardians. It will start your relationship positively. You will need their support, so start building a trusting relationship that shows you see their child in a positive light.”
Becky Stauffer, Outreach Specialist
“In post-12 classrooms, I like to have my students fill out index cards with their name, hobbies, major, year in school, and what they would like to get out of the class. I then use the cards when it’s time to work in groups. It seems to save a lot of time. This can also be done in K-12. Asking what type of books they like to read, favorite movie, etc., speeds up the process of getting to know your students.”
Dr. Theodore Ransaw, Outreach Specialist, Equity and Community Partnerships
“An anonymous author wrote, ‘Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times.’ Teachers, keep planting your seeds of encouragement; keep giving your best when confronted with a learning opportunity disguised as a challenge. Your students are paying attention to your every move, and they will unwrap their packages. Be patient, and watch the seeds grow!”
Janet Jones, Outreach Specialist
“‘If you error, and you will, error on the side of a child.’ – Seymour Gretchko.”
Dr. JoAnn Andrees, Outreach Specialist
Overall, starting a new school year, whether it is one’s first or tenth, requires some acclimation for principals, teachers, and students alike. Luckily, the world of education is filled with tips, tricks, and motivational reminders to make this period more manageable! Readers interested in staying up to date with the Office of K-12 Outreach can do so via future editions of In Focus throughout the 2024-25 school year.