When preparing to return to school, my heart is with new teachers. Each time I’ve been new – to the profession, school or district – I’ve felt tempted to stay silent and not contribute during professional development or staff meetings. The story I tell myself is, “I’m new. What do I have to offer?” But the truth is, we are all co-creating campus culture, and every voice matters.

I want to encourage every new teacher to remember something: We’re all new to this moment. None of us have taught this school year, so we’ve all arrived at the same place and moment. It’s important to contribute in any way you can. So here are a few ways new teachers can build confidence and help shape your school culture:

Ask Your School Leader about Their Vision

Every new teacher should carve out time for a sit-down conversation with your principal and ask, “What is your specific vision for our team? What are your hopes for this school year?” Often, new teachers hesitate to ask for time, worrying that their leader is too busy. But here’s the reality: They aren’t too busy for you. In fact, leaders appreciate when someone shows up with a curious heart focused on creating the best outcomes for kids. I would never tell someone who’s curious that I’m too busy. 

Sure, the broad campus vision is often communicated during staff kickoff, and the mission is written on our website. But principals often have hopes they haven’t yet shared. Maybe last year felt steeped in conflict and they’re seeking peace and collaboration this year. Maybe there’s a new initiative they’re hoping to build. When you take the time to ask about their dreams for your team, you bring yourself into alignment with that vision and can better see how you can help carry it forward.

Manage Mindsets and Moments with Your Teammates

We all came into teaching for the same foundational reasons: We love students, and we love learning. But in the spaces between our shared values and our distinctive perspectives, disagreements can happen that disrupt our day and affect campus culture.

We’re responsible for supporting student learning for around 180 days every year – and that’s a big task. Finding common ground with your teammates and showing compassion when mindsets clash can make a difference. When you don’t understand why a colleague is doing something, sit back and listen to learn more about their mindset. It’s tempting to rush to judgment or question why others do things a certain way, but when we listen, we can start to see the heart behind their actions. And when tensions rise, meeting those moments with compassion helps, because we all have moments when we’re not at our best.

To Make Big Change, Start Small

Sometimes, positivity and “sprinkling kindness like confetti” isn’t what the moment requires. Sometimes, we need to have courageous conversations about what’s not working. But if we’re clear on our school’s vision and approach our colleagues with compassion, we can help move campus culture forward – even as new teachers.

Often, there are systems in place to address concerns, but they’re not always followed. New teachers should take the time to learn what’s supposed to be happening and commit to living that out. Start with yourself – because that’s all you can control. Then, find the people on campus who are also committed to doing what’s right and build relationships with them. It makes you feel less alone.

When you want to create big change, start small. At the beginning of the school year, we all have our planners and new teacher bags that are full of big dreams. But it’s important to remember that small steps, taken consistently and with a spirit of collaboration, lead to big change.

This isn’t about a singular mission – it’s about what we all want for our campus. And that’s how we co-create a strong campus culture. So, new teachers, remember that you play a key role in the collaboration on your campus, and you can be a leader as we all take on this school year – this moment – for the first time, together.