Parent-Teacher partnership: 3 back-to-school prayers for teachers and school leaders

Wow! In just a few days, we will send our fellas out to begin the first week of a new school year. A new year of connecting with old friends, making new friends, learning new content, and being challenged to grow. 

They will leave the safety of our home to step a new season with new teachers. They will walk into classrooms their teachers spent days preparing.

While I cannot walk with them, I know my prayers for our children and their teachers matter. We spend time praying for their teachers, their classmates, and every one our children will encounter.

We are thankful for those who have chosen to lead and teach our children. As an educator, I know first-hand all the time, energy, and finances teachers pour into preparing for a successful school year. Year after year, these teachers face insurmountable challenges, often with large class sizes and limited resources. Yet, they show up and are simply AMAZING.

One of the important ways I choose to partner with our phenomenal teachers is in prayer.

Will you join me in praying for our teachers this year?

To help us get started, here are three back-to-school prayers for teachers and school leaders we can pray today.

Pray for our teachers and school leaders to be strong & courageous

Joshua 1:9 ESV—“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Prayer

 Lord, I pray (teacher’s name) will be strong and courageous. Let _______ not be frightened or dismayed, but know you are with him/her wherever_______ goes. I pray ________ stands boldly and bravely in the face of change. Help _________ to be unafraid to stand up for what is right even when it is unpopular. Give _____ the strength to be strong on the hard days, the endurance to finish the school year with hope, and strive to be a peacemaker whenever he/she is able.

 
Pray for our teachers and school leaders to walk in wisdom

James 1:5 MSG —“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.”

Prayer:

Lord, I pray (teacher’s name) will seek you for wisdom. Help ______ to rely on you for instruction and direction every day. When ________ needs help, he/she will be willing to ask and receive support. Guide ______ to see challenges as opportunities for growth and to see creative ways to bless his/her students and community. I pray ________ will be filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Set _______’s feet on the path that honors you. Open ______’s heart to continue to lead by example, creating an atmosphere where all are welcomed.
 

Pray for our teachers and school leaders to lead with love

1 John 4: 17-18 MSG—“God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God, and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on judgment day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life-fear of death, fear of judgment-is one not yet fully formed in love.”

Prayer

Lord, I pray (teacher’s name) will walk in your love all the days of her/his life. As your love fills _______’s life, help him/her to show your love to every student he/she encounters. Guide ________’s conversation so that his/her words are spoken with love and compassion. Let every student feel seen and loved. Remove any fear and insecurity standing in the way from ______ using his/her gifts to lead and teach students. 

If you’ve never considered back-to-school prayers for teachers, I encourage you to start TODAY. Whether your kiddo is starting kindergarten or going to high school, it’s never too late to begin praying for their teachers and faculty. In today’s society, our teachers are on the frontlines teaching and protecting our children. Let’s do our part to keep them covered in prayer.

How do you pray for teachers? Are you a teacher? What are some prayers you pray over your class?
 

Cheering you on for a great year,