Maybe it’s your first year of teaching, maybe it’s your 21st, but there are always ways to set yourself up for a great school year ahead.

As another school year ends, students and educators face transitions. And while summer may be eagerly anticipated, transitions are not easy for everyone. But there are ways to help ensure a healthy transition to summer.

There is a lot that educators can do to make the school environment more welcoming for these students — and a more inclusive environment for all students and staff.

Teaching can be stressful, and meditation and mindfulness can help alleviate the stress and bring a greater sense of calm and purpose to your life at work and at home. Research has shown that meditation can reduce burnout, improve self-confidence, empathy and the ability to concentrate — and even boost health and job performance.

Teaching can be an extraordinary career and a calling. But it can be very stressful. If you feel as though there are not enough hours in the day and your workload extends into nights, weekends and holidays, you are heading for burnout.

To do their jobs well, educators need to understand their students’ lives and cultures. This involves listening and asking questions with humility. Being open-minded and attentive to individual students and their circumstances are key to cultural competency.