Psychologist Claudia Matini warns teachers’ back-to-school stress is more than post-vacation fatigue

As Italian teachers prepare to return to school in the coming weeks, educational psychologist Claudia Matini says the pressure is tied to classroom management, planning and relationships, not just the end of summer. She says the pattern repeats every late August and can be prevented with better organization.

Why it matters: - Matini says teacher back-to-school stress is a recurring professional load, not just a temporary mood shift after summer break. - The pressure can affect how quickly teachers restart classes, plans and working relationships at the beginning of the school year. - Matini says the problem is often preventable when schools and teachers address it earlier and more systematically.

What happened: - Claudia Matini, an educational psychologist and trainer since 1995, is warning that Italian teachers face a specific kind of back-to-school stress in the weeks leading up to the new school year. - Matini says the pattern appears every year in late August, when teachers contact her saying they already feel behind before school starts. - Matini described the issue as stress tied to restarting a class, a curriculum plan and a network of relationships after a break.

The details: - Matini is registered with the Lazio Psychologists’ Association, under number 10033. - Matini has developed more than 390 training paths for teachers and schools. - Matini says three recurring mistakes make the first weeks of school harder: planning everything at once instead of in phases, skipping time for class-group management in the first days, and postponing organizational decisions that could be handled in late August. - Matini published a related analysis in the article “Pianificazione dell'anno scolastico: tre errori che vedo spesso (e come evitarli)” on her professional blog at more information. - Matini said some back-to-school stress is normal for anyone returning to a role with responsibility after a break. - Matini said the real issue is separating normal readjustment from recurring organizational problems that can be prevented. - Matini has spent 30 years working with teachers, trainers and schools on active teaching methods, classroom management and professional stress prevention. - Matini also offers individual teacher coaching for educators facing these difficulties on their own. - Matini has worked with the National School of Administration and Formez.

Between the lines: - The message reframes teacher stress as a workload and process problem, not a personal weakness. - Matini’s argument suggests schools may ease early-year pressure by changing how August and September are planned, rather than treating burnout-like symptoms as unavoidable. - The emphasis on repeat patterns hints that many stress points are structural and predictable.

What's next: - Matini is directing readers to her article on school-year planning for practical ways to avoid the three mistakes she sees most often. - Teachers and school leaders can expect the same late-August pressure cycle to return unless planning routines change. - More information is available on claudiamatini.it and on Matini’s LinkedIn profile.