Teaching is by far one of the most important jobs in the world and I feel blessed to speak to close to 2,500 teachers and support staff this month to kick off the school year.

90% of the staff I will meet will be loving, caring people who are passionate about their work. They understand that teaching and supporting students is a hard job and that in order to truly influence and motivate students, they need to be happy and motivated themselves. They have dealt with their own personal problems and they show up wanting to make a difference. They are there for their students regardless of the 10%s happening in their schools or at the division level. They show up with smiles on their faces, enthusiasm in their voices, and are ready for another year to begin.

Unfortunately, not everyone will be happy. Some will sit in my audience and not participate in any way and I worry, “Do they show up at school the same way? Do their attitudes affect their students? What impact do they have on the new teachers?” When our daughter was in grade four, I asked her how her day was and she replied, “We had a substitute teacher today.” When I asked what he or she was like, she replied, “I think she was having personal problems.” They know. Trust me. They always know.

We all have a choice on how we show up to work. Don’t let your choice negatively affect the self-esteem of another person—especially a child. Let’s be the kind of people who make others feel special, cared for and help them on their path in life.

Here’s to a wonderful school year!