West Virginia: Letters to Future Educators

Heather Haught (WV ’21)
First grade teacher, McNinch Primary School | Moundsville

Dear Future Teacher,

Welcome to a rewarding career with the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life every day. I am thrilled that you have chosen this exciting career path. As you begin your journey, I offer you some advice I have been given and learned over the last 13 years.

Don’t be scared to ask for help. Find other teachers who inspire you, celebrate with you, think like you, and pick you up on the tough days. When you have a difficult day — maybe a lesson didn’t go as planned or you had a tough interaction with a student — remember your why. Remind yourself why you started to teach. Remember all the good things that you have done and experience each day in your classroom. Make relationships with your students. Let them know that you care about them, believe in them, and trust in them. Your students will thrive when they know they are cared for and supported. Establish a routine that works for you and your classroom. Kids feel secure and safe when they know what to expect. Keep this routine most days, but remember to have fun with them. These fun moments will be some they never forget!

Finally, don’t forget to take care of yourself. You are important and deserve time to decompress and be away from the classroom and all the duties that come with the job. You will be a better teacher when you allow yourself time for the things that make you happy.

I wish you the best of luck and cannot wait to see how you change the lives of so many students!