Can Education in 2025 Be Sustainable? A Reflection on 2024-2025 School Year

"Most of this school year, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of responsibilities, constantly treading water just to keep from going under."

​To all my fellow educators—how was your school year?
What did you learn?
And perhaps most importantly: how are you doing?
As the academic year comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting more deeply than ever before. This year was different—not because of one catastrophic moment or event, but because of the relentless, accumulating weight of everything.
I want to share these thoughts—not to elicit sympathy, but because I know I’m not the only one carrying this burden. There’s value in naming what we’re experiencing and starting an honest conversation about the realities of teaching in 2025.
This has been, without question, the most difficult year of my career.
Despite being someone who thrives on structure and prides himself on time management and organization, it simply wasn’t enough this year. The demands stretched beyond what could reasonably fit into a school day—or even an extended workday. As a high school band director and music teacher, I often found myself finishing dinner (if I even made it that far) only to return to my desk for another hour—or several—of work.
And while my students remain the brightest part of this profession—the reason I stay inspired, the reason I show up—the workload outside of teaching them has become overwhelming. Planning, emails, paperwork, logistics, after-school obligations, and events… it never truly stops.
Eventually, I started to notice the toll.
Time with my wife and family became fragmented.
My personal passions and hobbies took a back seat.
And the doctoral work I’ve poured my heart into was placed on indefinite hold—not for lack of interest, but because the energy just isn’t there anymore. That loss, in particular, stings.
This year has left me with questions I can’t ignore:

• What more could I have done to stay afloat?
  
• Could I have built stronger systems or clearer boundaries?
  
• Am I failing—or is the system itself unsustainable for people like me?
  

Most of this year, I’ve felt like I was drowning—treading water to keep my head above the surface while carrying the weight of too much responsibility.
So, I’m putting this out there—not just as a reflection, but as a call to conversation.
Can education in 2025 be sustainable?
Can we keep working under these same conditions, year after year?
Is the traditional model of schooling still right for the next generation?
As we prepare for another school year, I hope we won’t just "reset" without asking these hard questions. The system isn’t just about standards, policies, and logistics. It’s about people—and those people are hurting.
Let’s start talking. Let’s reimagine.
And if you’re an educator, I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts. What have you experienced this year? What are you carrying with you into summer—and beyond?