Sarah Miller Captures the Rhythm of a School Year in New Book

National Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance to pause and recognize the work teachers do every day, often quietly and without much fanfare. This year at Cannon, it also comes with a special milestone: Upper School social studies teacher Sarah Miller has published her first book, The Teacher’s Year: A Weekly Guide to the Heart of the Craft, with Routledge, a leading international academic publisher, as part of its Eye on Education series.

The book follows the arc of a school year, offering a mix of practical ideas and honest reflections drawn from life in the classroom. It’s organized month by month, capturing both the familiar highlights, like exam season and school traditions, and the less obvious shifts in energy that teachers experience along the way. For example, while January often feels like a fresh start in the wider world, Miller points out that for educators, the “new year” really begins in August. In her book, January becomes more of a checkpoint, a time to step back, ask questions, and adjust.

Throughout, Miller writes with a tone that’s approachable and grounded. Alongside weekly essays, readers will find reflection questions, classroom strategies, and small but useful resources, from email templates to ideas for those moments when inspiration runs low. The result feels less like a manual and more like an ongoing conversation.

That sense of connection is at the heart of what she hopes readers take away. “My sincere hope is that teachers get a new perspective, come away with a few concrete ideas, but above all that they feel encouraged and seen,” she says. More than anything, the book is meant to offer support and a reminder that teaching is a shared experience.

That idea fits naturally with Teacher Appreciation Week. While celebrations often focus on big gestures, Miller keeps coming back to something simpler: “The simplest way to show teachers appreciation throughout the year is just to say, ‘Thank you.’” It’s a small act, but one that carries real meaning.  “I think we sometimes struggle to express our gratitude because the words ‘thank you’ don’t feel like enough,” she notes. “But our words don’t have to be weighty enough to capture the fullness of our feelings or the depths of our gratitude. It’s enough for us to just remember to say it.”

For the Cannon community, The Teacher’s Year is also a chance to see the profession from the inside to better understand the pace, the challenges, and the moments of joy that shape a school year. The book will be available for pre-order starting May 15.

It’s an exciting accomplishment for Miller, and a fitting moment to reflect on the work she and her colleagues do every day.