August normally marks the start of the back to school season with joy, nostalgia, maybe a little stress. Parents, students, teachers, and other school employees are busy making preparations and looking forward to seeing smiling faces both old and new. And then 2020 happened.
Nothing looks the same this year, even for those in places where in-person schooling is happening. And for those faced with virtual learning, the world looks upside down. Even the homeschooling families I know are having to do things a little differently because their co-ops, sports, and other activities have been impacted as much as public, charter, virtual, and private school families have.
From the time I was ten, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. Of course, that changed in college when I decided I wanted to be a writer and a stay-home mom instead, but my love for the school environment never went away. I was blessed to marry a man who supports my dreams, and after staying home with our three daughters for many years, volunteering in their classrooms and serving on the PTA board, leading our local MOMS Club chapter, and more, I moved into substitute teaching. This is the first year I won’t be in a school in over a decade and I’ve got to admit, I’m a little heartbroken. Not just for myself, but for our kids, our teachers, and school staff who are having to learn to do their jobs in a completely new way.
Since reading is my escape of choice (and if you’re here, I’m guessing it’s yours, too), I’ve made a list of contemporary Christian/Inspy romance titles featuring teachers and school employees as the heroes and/or heroines. If we can’t have a normal school year in 2020, the least we can do is dive into a good book and remember the good times, right? Looking with hope toward the future that someday, life will return to something resembling normal.
Operation Back-to-School by Elizabeth Maddrey – a widow and a kindergarten teacher have unexpected sparks
Taking a Chance on Mr. Wrong by Liwen. Y. Ho – a math teacher in a culture clash with a Chinese physician
Roadtrip to Redemption by Laurie Larsen – a teacher’s summer break roadtrip to rediscover her identity
Smile for Me by Jan Thompson – an art teacher & assistant principal at an art camp
A Dash of Daring by Elizabeth Maddrey – two inner city teachers work together on a holiday program
Finding Faith by Melanie Snitker – a single mom and her special needs child’s music therapy teacher
Memories of Mist by Valerie Comer – a conflict-avoiding teacher clashes with a take-no-prisoners PTA mom
Summer to Remember by Tara Grace Ericson – small town secrets and scandal with a mid-school teacher and his heroine
A Sidelined Christmas by Toni Shiloh – high school sweethearts, a wide-receiver and a teacher, reunite
Second Chance Love by Merrillee Whren – a high school teacher and part-time youth minister rediscover old feelings
Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese – a teacher facing a big decision falls for a substitute
Cupcake Dilemma by Jennifer Rodewald – a first-grade teacher who can’t bake faces disaster with a baker
Molly by Sarah Monzon – an unabashedly honest pre-school teacher becomes nanny to a physician single dad
Love and Harmony by Sally Bayless – a novella featuring a music teacher and a high school principal
Restoring Christmas by Julie Arduini – a special ed teacher, a hurting woman, and a tourist trap in need of restoration
Solo Tu (A Tuscan Legacy) by Narelle Atkins – two high school teachers from different countries become friends (and maybe more)
And last but not least, I have a few as well! Randomly choosing from the comments, I’ll be giving away an eBook of my first novel, What Could Be, in which a college student struggles to decide whether to continue pursuing a nursing degree or to chase her dream of becoming a teacher while working for an after school program and forging a friendship with one of her students’ parents.
Also featuring two teachers, my freebie novelette Just Say Yes is available to all subscribers to my email newsletter. Click the link or the image to subscribe!
By the way, have you entered our annual BACK TO SCHOOL giveaway?! Huge prize bundles, and this year we have a ton of paperbacks! Only a week left to enter!
Books with teachers are generally some of my favorites!
Such a fun collection, more books to add to my list
Such a stressful time with my five kids going back to school this year! Everything is so different. We are trying, though, and hoping things will get better. Thanks for the amazing list of books – you have added significantly to my tbr pile!
Yes, the school year is so upside down! Where I live on the Oregon coast, we’re going to be starting out for at least the first six weeks online only. We normally start the day after Labor Day, but that has been pushed out until Monday, Sept. 14th. Each student will be getting a Chromebook and the school is providing free school supplies….which is super nice! I don’t know what the online schedule will be, I think they are still trying to piece everything together!
Our district was already going to be different this year since a new middle and High school is in the process of finishing up being built (out of the Tsunami zone) & the two Elementary schools are combining into one school…the building is finishing being remolded to accommodate the extra kids & classes. This summer, two of the construction workers had tested positive for Covid, so that put the construction behind which in turn, we can’t even get into the new buildings until sometime in October anyway. So yeah, Covid made our new school year even stranger!
I SO want this to be over already…..
Thanks for the free book when you sign up for your newsletter, I just did that 🙂
Yay! Thank you so much! And yes, ours did chrome books as well and I’m grateful. Had to figure out a new router to supply enough oomph for everybody this weekend! Lol! Crazy times.
What an amazing list of books!
There is nothing so special as the look on someone’s face when they realise that they can actually do something themselves. I imagine being a teacher is a lot like being a trainer where you need to help the person past their fear of not knowing and help them move into the feeling of accomplishment. Sounds like you know what I mean from your post. Thanks
I sure do! Thanks for commenting!
Jaycee,
Great post! I’m one of those overwhelmed with learning all new ways to teach our students. For the last week I’ve been in trainings and zoom meetings. My head is really ready to combust! Today it was all on tech and the tools we can use and how to use them. I never knew I’d be learning so much at this age! UGH!
Each afternoon I’ve escaped into books because it’s a great way to decompress. Thanks for your list!
You’re so welcome! Thank you for the work you’re doing. I know it’s extra difficult, but those precious students with IEPs need loving hands like yours!
Thank you for the list!
My pleasure!
I think this is such a difficult time for kids and parents who are mostly not prepared to step up as substitute teachers. Here in Brazil the school year started in March and it only lasted for two weeks. We’ve been home for most of the academic year that will be over in December. Most kids are going to repeat the year. Probably a lot of them are not moving grades. And I’m not even talking about other downsides from staying at home (as a Psychologist, I read a lot of national and international literature about violence at home, mental health issues etc.). I can’t stop being sad when I think about all of these topics.
Numbers are stabilising and some schools are planing to go back to in person teaching, there are some good experiences in Europe and Asia to follow. Hopefully that will work out even for a few months to help children get good meals, health support, and reacquire the habit of learning. I’m an university professor, and sometimes I feel like my students act like children, but I still praise teachers, who do a wonderful job that I’m not prepared to do.
Amen and I sure hope so! I’m so fascinated to learn about how school and other things are working across the globe. Thank you for sharing!
What Could Be sounds really interesting, and that cover is so cute! I have read Liwen’s book as well as The Cupcake Dilemma (loved them both), so thank you for the recommendations! Books are just the perfect way to escape reality, or, to go back to in time to a different (previously normal) reality 😉
Thank you so much! And yes, I do live to escape into the pages!
Thank you for your post. I pray for all the teachers, school personal, parents, children and administrators as they find a new normal in this school year. I cannot imagine how hard it is for students and teachers during this time. Many younger children take learn socialization in their first years in school. With face coverings, facial expressions and voices can be misinterpreted very easily. I was never blessed with children, but both of my parents were very active in PTA, room mother, and Mother’s club. My Mom and Dad both remark that they would not even know where to begin in leading in today’s world.
It’s complicated, that’s for sure. Thank you for your prayers. I know they’re appreciated!