Back-to-School Checklist to Support Your District's Teachers

The first days of school aren’t just about student readiness—they’re also about ensuring teachers feel confident, supported, and equipped to begin the new school year. That responsibility starts with school and district leadership.

But a successful start in the fall depends on intentional preparation happening today.

While teachers are focused on wrapping up the school year, administrators should be looking ahead to prepare for a strong planning session this summer. Now is the time to get started with this back-to-school checklist for supporting teachers. School and district leaders can use this resource as a conversation starter and tool to build a strong school climate where teachers feel supported and heard.

When paired with real-time feedback from Panorama’s Teacher and Staff Survey, this checklist can help leaders move beyond assumptions about what teachers need and into meaningful, responsive action—laying the foundation not just for a successful school year, but for long-term teacher engagement and retention.

A Strong Start for Teachers Begins with Listening 

Before the school year begins, school leaders often focus on logistics, materials, and professional development to support teachers. But without asking teachers directly what they need, it’s easy to overlook critical blind spots.

Start by surveying your teachers—use their input to build your back-to-school checklist that actually reflects what will help them feel prepared and supported. A thoughtful checklist isn’t just a task manager; it’s a reflection of teacher voice. The most effective leaders don’t just prepare their teams—they co-create the plan with them.

The checklist in this blog is a starting point—use it as inspiration, but let your teachers’ feedback guide what matters most in your own context.

The Leadership-Driven Back to School Checklist for Teachers

Use this checklist as a starting point as you build out your summer planning. Cater it to your school’s unique needs and priorities by gathering feedback from colleagues and making adjustments as needed. Remember, the goal is for your teachers to feel ready to hit the ground running this fall.

How to Use This Checklist

This checklist is designed to help district leaders ensure their schools are truly ready to support teachers—not just on day one, but throughout the entire school year. It can be used as a summer planning tool in leadership retreats, shared with principals as a guided walkthrough of key readiness areas, or adapted into a self-assessment rubric for schools to identify gaps. 

Encourage school leaders to reflect on each category, rate current readiness, and flag top priorities for support. District teams can then coordinate resources, policies, and PD that address common needs across schools.

Classroom Setup & Environment

• Are teachers supported in creating safe, welcoming spaces?

• Are custodial and tech teams prepared to respond to last-minute needs?

• Have teachers received the materials and furnishings needed for classroom setup?

  Leadership Lever: Ensure facilities, custodial, and tech departments follow a districtwide readiness timeline—with clear service level expectations and feedback loops for school leaders to report unmet needs before school starts.

Curriculum & Instructional Prep

• Do teachers have access to updated pacing guides and resources?

• Has time for collaboration and planning been built into the schedule?

• Do teachers have clear expectations for instructional priorities and academic interventions?

  Leadership Lever: Provide updated curriculum documents early and host districtwide summer PD or planning days for unpacking instructional shifts, ensuring vertical alignment, and co-creating intervention plans.

Student and Family Readiness

• Have teachers received rosters, accommodations, and data early?

• Are systems in place for communicating with families from Day 1?

• Have staff received training or resources for family engagement?

  Leadership Lever: Coordinate with school-based teams to guarantee that every teacher receives complete, accurate rosters—including accommodations and contact info—in advance of day one. Offer template communications for family outreach.

Tools, Technology, and AI Integration

• Are teachers set up with access to the core platforms they’ll be using (e.g., SIS, LMS, and communication tools)?

• Have educators been introduced to district-approved AI tools, with coordinating PD and guidance on AI literacy?

• Are expectations clear around which tools are optional vs. required?

  Leadership Lever: Design a districtwide professional development plan that ensures teachers are confident using AI tools from day one. Provide summer training that includes hands-on practice, clear guidance on how tools align with instructional goals, and expectations for responsible use. Equip school leaders with slide decks, sample prompts, and office-hour support so they can continue training and coaching at the school level.

Culture, Community, and Wellbeing

• Do teachers feel welcomed, included, and heard?

• Is there intentional space for teachers to connect with one another?

• Are leaders modeling support for mental health and work-life balance?

  Leadership Lever: Model staff appreciation and inclusive leadership at the district level—through welcome videos, open office hours, or listening tours—and encourage each school to submit a brief teacher engagement plan for the first 30 days.

Retention and Yearlong Support

• Are systems in place for checking in on teachers’ well-being beyond the first month?
• Have you communicated opportunities for leadership, feedback, and growth this year?
• Is there a clear path for teachers to share concerns and feel supported when challenges arise?
  Leadership Lever: Use teacher feedback data to identify high-risk schools or departments and design early interventions—like mentorship pairings, regular check-ins, or growth opportunities—to reduce mid-year attrition.

Gather Real-Time Teacher Feedback with Panorama

Teacher readiness is about more than supplies and lesson plans—it’s about whether educators feel seen, supported, and heard. Consider the back-to-school checklist your starting point, not a finish line. To truly understand what’s working and what’s missing, you’ll need direct input from teachers.

Panorama’s research-based Teacher and Staff Survey gives school and district leaders a clear view into staff experiences, needs, and trust in leadership—right when it matters most. Whether you're identifying gaps in support or validating what’s working, the data equips districts to take action early and create a working environment that benefits both adults and students.

Panorama Teacher and Staff Survey (demo data displayed)

Now is the time to begin planning for your fall surveys. Feedback gathered in August or September won’t just inform reactive planning, it’ll set the stage for a stronger, more responsive school year. Start the year by listening to teachers, and you’ll lead with confidence, clarity, and connection from day one.

Get Started with Panorama’s Teacher and Staff Survey