August Story Roundup: For new and returning teachers alike, the new school year is just around the corner.

A group of nine Prince George’s County Public Schools teachers gather closely for a photograph at their staff event, “Staff fest”. Some teachers are wearing sunglasses and many teachers are wearing branded bright blue t-shirts that read “PGCPS” in bright yellow font. They are standing in the stands of a baseball stadium, with the baseball field behind them in the background.

August Story Roundup: For new and returning teachers alike, the new school year is just around the corner.

Teachers are jumping on trends and more this summer to welcome back their students!

Author: Karley Wise-Rader

The 2026-27 school year is here and teachers across the country have been hard at work preparing. From setting up calming corners to prepping for open house, teachers are putting hours of heart and planning into every inch of their classrooms.

It’s not just experienced teachers getting ready for the big day, but hundreds of new teachers across the country. These new teachers are finally stepping into their classrooms– for the first time! And whether they’re new educators or veterans, teachers are getting creative, using everything from trending social media videos to hands-on classroom setups to make sure their students (and new faces) feel welcome on day one.

Here are four stories that show off how teachers are returning to school, and a few examples of some fun social media trends that are kicking the new school year off right!

Cherry Creek School District to welcome 300 new educators. (Colorado)

A new teacher stands in the school’s library to be interviewed for the upcoming school year. She is a young woman with brown hair and wearing a yellow shirt, red lanyard and a tan cardigan.

Cherry Creek School District of Denver, CO is excited to welcome hundreds of new educators to their schools– 300 to be exact. These teachers come excited to meet their students and start making an impact in the classroom.

Sydney King, a dedicated first-year teacher preparing to guide her second-grade students at High Plains Elementary, expressed that one word truly evokes her feelings as she starts her first year teaching. "One word to describe it is just eager, really, just to get into the classroom to meet all my students.”

Read the full story

Corpus Christi Independent School District’s 2026 Teacher of the Year gets ready to start the year. (Texas)

The Corpus Christi 2026 elementary teacher of the year, Denise Caldera, sits at a desk in her classroom with paper cut outs of circles on the desk. She is sitting directly across from a young lady who is assisting her with the paper circles. They are smiling.

Denise Caldera, a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Galvan Elementary in Corpus Christi, TX, is going into her 19th year in the classroom. She reflected on how teachers made her feel welcome when she was a new student, and it reminded her how important those first interactions with students are. She strives to create that same welcoming atmosphere for her students every year, and has developed strategies based on her years of experience.

Watch the interview

Future Teachers Program alum enters her first year teaching chemistry. (North Carolina)

A young woman who is a first year teacher at North Carolina Wake County Public Schools sits in her chemistry classroom to be interviewed. She is smiling at the camera, with dirty blonde chin length hair, a green vest with an off-white blouse underneath. Behind her is a poster on the wall that reads, “What do you wonder?”

Kimmie Tomczak, a 2026 North Carolina State University and Wake County Public School graduate, is starting her first year at Willow Spring High School as a chemistry teacher. While she will be going into the new school year teaching chemistry, Kimmie reveals that the subject wasn’t her strongest as a high schooler. Now, she recognizes the challenges students can face in science classes and wants to instill that drive into her students.

"It's the first thing that I really felt challenged by in school. Giving students the opportunity to feel the struggle, feel the challenge, but not feel overwhelmed by it is really what I wanted to do."

Watch the inerview

Prince George’s County Public Schools Staff Fest 2026 celebrates new and returning teachers. (Maryland)

A group of staff gather for a selfie at a baseball stadium, with one staff member in the front holding her camera up high to get a selfie with everyone. Everyone is smiling and some are wearing sunglasses, as well as bright blue, yellow or white shirts that match Prince George’s County Public Schools’ colors.

If Prince George's County Public Schools knows one thing, it’s how to make their teachers excited for the school year! PGCPS put together Staff Fest, an event for educators to kick off the school year with live music, games, competitions and giveaways.

Jamie Reed, a first-year teacher at Mattaponi Elementary School, expressed her excitement for the new school year and mentioned reconnecting with influential teachers from her past. “I just saw one of my high school teachers a few seconds ago, and that’s a full circle moment for them to see me and [I can say] ‘you inspired me!’”

Watch the broadcast

Social media spotlight

These teachers know how to celebrate their community! Schools across the country are jumping on trending social media moments to welcome back their communities:

Madonna Del Sasso School (CA): Created a catchy music video invitation for their back-to-school BBQ.
Watch the reel
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (MD): Asked teachers to share their one-word intention for the new school year.
Watch the reel
Richardson ISD (TX): Featured first-year educators sharing positive mindsets using a trending Netflix format.
Watch the reel

The Honor Roll Teacher Shoutout

TEACH is proud to partner with Honored.org, a national non-profit dedicated to recognizing and celebrating great teachers. This month, we are excited to give a special shoutout to:

Portrait of a woman with chin length brown hair and wearing a black blouse, smiling at the camera against a gray background. A yellow banner reads “THE HONOR ROLL” in white text on a dark blue textured background.

Debra Bentrem

Physical Education Teacher

Plain Elementary School

Simpsonville, South Carolina

See Ms. Bentrem’s Nomination Story

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