How to Get Back-to-School Ready with These Helpful Tips from a Mom and Oregon School Leader’s Tips 

As summer winds down and the back-to-school season looms, Carrie Quinn, Executive Director of Destinations Career Academy of Oregon and a mother of three, knows firsthand how this transitional time can feel both energizing and overwhelming. 

In her family, summer is less about perfection and more about perspective. It’s not filled with lavish trips or carefully curated routines. Instead, it’s a season that offers something every family craves: room to breathe. 

Whether it’s the chance to catch up on sleep, slow down the daily grind, or simply navigate sibling squabbles and impromptu family adventures, summer is a time for growth, both the messy and the meaningful kind. 

For Mrs. Quinn, this season serves as an important checkpoint. With one child in college, another in high school, and her youngest preparing for middle school, she’s come to value summer not just for the break it brings, but for the clarity it offers. 

She encourages families across Oregon to take a break before diving into the new school year. Rather than rushing to stock backpacks and calendars, she recommends reflecting on what the past few months have taught us. 

Try asking yourself and your family questions like: 

• What did we enjoy most this summer? 

• What drained our energy? 

• What routines helped us thrive? 

• What’s one habit we could shift to make the school year smoother? 

According to Mrs. Quinn, resetting back-to-school doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Simple adjustments, like meal prepping on Sundays, scanning school emails more regularly, or creating a predictable weekday routine, can have a big impact. 

In her own household, the focus is currently on supporting her youngest child through the leap from elementary to middle school. It’s a major milestone filled with change, from new schedules to unfamiliar social settings. Her approach? Stick to what is steady. 

That means lots of encouragement (and hugs while she can still get them). Setting reasonable screen-time boundaries. Following through on expectations, even when met with teenage eyerolls or sighs. 

Sometimes, those small battles lead to unexpected wins. After one tough night, her son turned to her and said, “Thanks for helping me get to bed tonight. It actually feels good to have a shower and be in bed.” It was a quiet moment, but a powerful reminder that structure, even when resisted, helps kids feel supported. 

Mrs. Quinn is also quick to reassure fellow parents that they’re not alone. Social media might make it seem like other families have endless freedom and zero rules, but most are walking the same tightrope, trying to strike the right balance between structure and flexibility, fun and responsibility. 

Her advice to families: check in with yourself, assess what’s working, and don’t be afraid to adjust. Whether that means setting clearer expectations, seeking extra support, or simply carving out time for a reset, small intentional choices can ease the back-to-school transition for both kids and parents. 

With thoughtful planning, a little grace, and a whole lot of heart, families can enter the new school year with more confidence and less stress. Start small, be intentional, and remember; support is always within reach. 

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