I recently took a very long trip overseas after my mother died for her funeral. I had one mission, get there as soon as possible. Yet, in the midst of grief something happened. A lesson or an epiphany perhaps.
Airports during a long layover are unique “liminal spaces”: you are no longer where you were, but not yet where you need to be. That exact feeling offers a powerful, multi-layered metaphor for education and the start of the school year.
Here are a few ways to draw that parallel:
1. “Everyone is Carrying Something” (Unseen Baggage & Empathy)
- At the Airport: As you watch people pass, everyone carries luggage. Some roll light carry-ons; others lug heavy, overpacked bags. More importantly, everyone carries emotional cargo, some are traveling for celebration, others for sudden grief, stress, or fresh starts.
- In Education: Every August in America, students, teachers, and leaders walk through the school doors carrying silent, invisible luggage. A student’s behavior or a colleague’s quietness often reflects the heavy bags they didn’t get to choose.
- The Connection: Real equity and restorative leadership start with recognizing that we don’t always know what cargo someone is hauling. The job of an educator is to create a space where people can safely set their heavy bags down to learn.
2. The Layover as “The August Threshold” (Liminal Space)
- At the Airport: A 6-hour layover is a strange pause. You double-check your gate, organize your thoughts, watch the clock, and figure out how to fuel yourself for the next leg. You’re in motion, yet standing still.
- In Education: August is the educational layover. The summer is behind us, but the “flight” of the 180-day school year hasn’t officially taken off. Teachers are in their classrooms arranging desks, setting up frameworks, and mentally bracing for what’s ahead.
- The Connection: The layover isn’t wasted time, it’s the essential buffer where we prepare our mindset, gather our tools, and make sure we are fueled before we step onto the aircraft.
3. The 15-Hour Non-Stop Flight (Pacing & Sustainability)
- At the Airport: You can’t sprint through a 15-hour international flight. You have to be deliberate about pacing: When do I eat? When do I sleep? How do I stretch so I don’t burn out halfway across the ocean?
- In Education: The academic year is a long-haul flight. Too often, educators sprint in August and September, pouring out 100% of their energy immediately, only to crash by November.
- The Connection: Sustainable teaching and leadership require intentional fueling—protecting your personal well-being, taking quiet moments during the “layover,” and recognizing that endurance matters far more than starting at full throttle.
4. The Transit Hub (Different Destinations, Shared Space)
- At the Airport: Thousands of people walk through the exact same concourse, yet no two people are flying to the exact same life outcome. They rely on clear signage, steady flight crews, and mutual patience to navigate the noise.
- In Education: A school building is a busy transit hub. Every child enters from a different origin and is headed toward a unique destination. Educators serve as the ground crew and flight directors—providing the structure, guidance, and safety needed for every individual to take off successfully.
A Thought for Your Wait:
While you sit in the terminal navigating your own sudden journey, remember that the quiet care you extend to yourself right now—choosing when to rest, how to fuel up, and giving yourself grace is the exact same grounding presence you bring to the schools and leaders you support.
Wishing you a safe, smooth flight and comfort in the 2026-2027 school hours ahead.
Designed for K-12 Teacher Support & School Leadership | C&B Educational Consulting LLC ©2026 All rights reserved
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