Starting Fresh: My First Day as the New Art Teacher

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about being an art teacher, it’s that transitions are as colorful and messy as finger painting with kindergarteners. And here I am, stepping into a brand-new district, preparing to meet a whole new set of coworkers and students. My nerves? Let’s just say they’re performing an interpretive dance somewhere between “what if they don’t like me?” and “what if I trip over my own feet on day one?” Spoiler: I probably will.

Leaving my first campus wasn’t easy. That place will always hold a special spot in my heart. My first classroom, my first group of students who taught me as much as I taught them, and my incredible coworkers who became my extended family—they’ll always be my people. It’s like moving away from your hometown; you’re excited for what’s next, but you’ll always carry a piece of where you came from.

But as much as I’ll miss them, I’m also buzzing with excitement for this new chapter. A new school means new faces, new challenges, and new opportunities to inspire (and be inspired by) a fresh group of creative minds. I can’t wait to see what my new students bring to the table—or the art room floor, as is often the case.

I’m not going to pretend I’m not nervous, though. Will my coworkers think I’m quirky in a fun way or quirky in a “maybe don’t leave her alone with glitter” kind of way? Will the students embrace me as their new art teacher, or will they miss their predecessor so much that I’ll feel like the substitute who stayed too long? Only time will tell. But one thing I do know is that art has this magical way of bringing people together. It’s the universal language of “hey, look what I made!”

So, as I prepare for this new adventure, I’m trying to channel my inner Bob Ross. There are no mistakes, just happy little accidents—even if those accidents involve me spilling paint on my shoes in front of the entire class. (Yes, that’s happened before. No, I’m not over it.)

To my old coworkers and students: You’ll always be a part of my story. I’ll think of you every time I hang up a new piece of student art or when a coworker laughs at my corny jokes. And to my new coworkers and students: Be ready. I’m bringing the same passion, creativity, and slightly chaotic energy that made my first school home.

Here’s to new beginnings, new friendships, and, hopefully, fewer paint-related mishaps. Wish me luck!