As we approach the end of the school year, a time often marked by fatigue, burnout, and survival mode, we have a choice. We can let the year fizzle out and focus on exhaustion, or we can lay the foundations for the right mindset in 2026. We can choose to frame the end of the year not as a wind-down, but as a wind-up: a chance to reflect, reconnect, and re-energise.

When we recruit our teachers, we look for the essentials: curriculum knowledge, classroom management skills, and a solid grasp of pedagogy. These are the foundations of good teaching and the technical competencies that ensure a classroom runs smoothly to enable students to learn effectively.

What happens when those foundations are shaken? When the curriculum changes yet again, when classroom dynamics shift, when pedagogical trends evolve faster than professional development can keep up? In those moments, technical skill isn’t enough. What we need, and what our schools need, is optimism.

Optimism is not naïveté. It’s not blind positivity or toxic cheerfulness. It’s a grounded belief that things can improve, that challenges can be overcome, and that the future holds possibility. It’s the mindset that allows teachers to say, “I don’t know this yet,” and lean into learning. Optimism is the soil in which a growth mindset flourishes.

Through his Optimism Company and Optimism Library, Simon Sinek has championed this idea. Sinek posits that optimism is a strategic asset, not a soft skill. In education, it’s no different. Sinek argues that we must shift our focus from the “what” of education, including grades, metrics and outcomes to the “why”, helping students become curious, empathetic, and passionate humans.

Research supports this thinking. Studies on academic optimism show that when teachers believe in their own efficacy, trust their colleagues and families, and maintain a strong academic focus, student outcomes improve, even when controlling for socioeconomic status.

Optimism isn’t just a feeling; it’s a measurable force for achievement. 

Optimism is also a protective factor for teacher wellbeing. A recent study of over 12,000 teachers found that optimism mediates the relationship between school organisational health and teacher wellbeing, reducing exhaustion, cognitive strain, and even physical symptoms like voice and musculoskeletal disorders.

So, what does this mean for your school?

At Be Challenged, we believe optimism can be cultivated. Through experiential professional development programs that boost communication, collaboration, and connection, we help schools build the kind of culture where optimism thrives.

Whether it’s a team-building day, a leadership retreat, or a whole-school experience, we partner with schools to create moments that matter — moments that remind teachers why they do what they do.

Let’s finish the year with optimism. Let’s give our teachers the gift of hope, possibility, and connection. When teachers feel optimistic, they teach better, lead better, and live better. And when that happens, everyone wins; especially our students.

Book your end-of-year program with Be Challenged and lay the foundations for an optimistic 2026! ‘

Thank you for reading,

Lisa Kelliher
Be Challenged