Welcome Back to School! Are You Ready for It?

Inspiring Conversations Ahead

We’re bringing two powerful voices to the AFT Book Club this month and in September:

August - Now On Demand | Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation

Haidt digs into the youth mental health crisis, connecting the rise of anxiety and depression to young people's “phone-based childhood,” and offers a call to action for parents, educators, and policymakers. Register here.

September | Randi Weingarten, Why Fascists Fear Teachers

AFT President Randi Weingarten makes the case that attacks on schools and teachers are really attacks on democracy, and she shows why defending public education is defending freedom itself. Register here.

• Listen to more authors in the AFT Book Club. 

Health & Wellness Guidance You Can Trust

With so much mixed messaging on vaccines, our Vital Lessons series with Dr. Vin Gupta cuts through the noise. Watch this August back-to-school town hall, now on demand, where we'll cover routine vaccines and what to expect from flu, COVID-19, and RSV this season, providing clear guidance for schools and families. Register here.

• Access all sessions in the Vital Lessons series. 

Season 2 of AI Educator Brain + EdBrAIn Grows Up

Also in August, and now available on demand, Sari Beth Rosenberg and I are launching Season 2 of AI Educator Brain. We’ll share updates on our new EdBrAIn tool, now built directly into Share My Lesson, and preview what’s ahead with our new National Academy for AI Instruction. Register here.

• Catch up on EdBrAIn and all things AI and Education in our growing community. 

New Learning Opportunities in 2025-26

This fall, the AFT, along with the United Federation of Teachers, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, with in-person training starting in 2026 in New York City. On Share My Lesson, AFT members can also check out new professional learning courses, starting with our Best Practices in Reading Comprehension course.

Celebrating Joy and our Democracy

As we head into the new school year, I’m holding onto what brings me joy — because as poet Toi Derricotte reminds us, “Joy is an act of resistance.” With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence coming up in 2026, it’s worth remembering that while it set forth the ideals of freedom and equality, the U.S. Constitution created the framework of our democracy. Both remind us that education, critical thinking, and civic engagement are essential to keeping those promises alive.

Here’s to a new school year with Share My Lesson — full of joy, full of learning, full of hope for our democracy, and a few Easter eggs to make us smile along the way.

Drop us a photo! 

Show off your new classroom or your back-to-school pics. We’d love to see how you’re kicking off the year, so tag us @ShareMyLesson or use #sharemylesson.

PSA: Be Kind on October 3

And if you didn’t pick up on my earlier hints, I’m also excited about Taylor Swift’s new album dropping on Oct. 3. My daughter already asked if school is canceled that day. (It’s not, but nice try.) PSA to all educators: Your Swiftie students and colleagues will likely be exhausted on Oct. 3, so try to avoid any quizzes. Thanks for coming to my Swiftie + Education TED Talk.