Praying for Teachers and Students

Written by Baylor High

Thank you to everyone who came out last night to pray for teachers, school workers, students, parents, and campus ministers! If you weren’t able to make it (and even if you were) here are a few prayer requests from the perspective of a teacher.

One of the most refreshing parts of starting a new school year is getting back into a routine. After weeks of having a sporadic and inconsistent schedule, the new school year is greeted by many with a sigh of relief. As humans, we thrive on routine and having a solid understanding of what is coming up. It takes support and collaboration between families and teachers to help make the school year successful, especially in the beginning. There are many thoughts and emotions going through the minds of teachers and students alike, and partnering in prayer is a beautiful way to support and love our schools. 

Here are some ways you can be praying as we enter the new school year: 

• Pray for peace as teachers are juggling a lot on their to-do lists: setting up classrooms, attending meetings, looking at class lists, connecting with families, catching up with colleagues and meeting new ones, figuring out what to do with students in the first few days of school – the list seems endless and it is so easy to become stressed and overwhelmed. 

• Pray for building connections with families: we as teachers have the opportunity to show the love of Jesus to our families through our words and actions. 

• Pray for perseverance for teachers: with so many things on our to-do lists, it is easy to get discouraged and exhausted.

• Pray for relationships with colleagues: when you work closely with a group of people, there are many opportunities to show the love of Jesus to others (through action and conversation). 

• Pray for the well-being of students: some students come to school and do not have a lot at home (food, clothes, stability) and need extra support through resources in the community. This also makes it more difficult for some students to participate well in class and need the extra support to be more successful. 

• Pray for parents/guardians: just as parents and students have a lot of emotions about starting the new school year, so do parents/guardians. Some may be feeling anxious as their child starts a new school or program. Some may feel defeated with challenges at home and need additional support and patience from teachers. Other parents/guardians may feel anxiety around just wanting to make sure that the school year goes smoothly and that their student is supported and grows. Even the unknown about the upcoming school year as a whole can be daunting and overwhelming for some caregivers. Whatever the case may be, all parents/guardians provide a lot of support and are an essential part of our school communities. 

• Wisdom for teachers to navigate challenges: whether it be in the personal lives or with students/families, teachers are faced with challenges that weigh heavily on the mind and heart. 

• Growth and perseverance throughout the school year: with so much to learn and do, it is easy to lose stamina. There is so much pressure to make a certain score or mark on a test, it can feel like both teachers and students alike are participating in a marathon. Students should feel proud of themselves for the hard work they have done and all that they have learned. Even when it feels difficult, may both students and teachers have the grace for one another to keep working and doing their best. 

• Pray for the spiritual, mental, and physical well-being of our teachers and students. 

When the newness of the year wears off –the crayons start breaking, the markers run out of ink, and colored pencils are accepted as a writing utensil – teachers and students will still be encouraged and loved by the prayers from the Church.