INDIANAPOLIS — For the past 25 years, North Central journalism teacher Tom Gayda has looked forward to the first day of school.

“I think it comes a little easier with knowing you know what to do on the first day,” Gayda said.

On Thursday, Gayda will join teachers in Washington, Pike, Lawrence and Franklin Townships as they embark on another school year.

Indianapolis Public Schools and Center Grove are also back in session on August 1.

“You can always kind of reinvent yourself,” Gayda shared while reminiscing on his past 24 first days. “Even at the semester, you get a little chance to change things up. Every year is a new start and that’s kind of fun.”

WATCH RELATED COVERAGE | Beech Grove students return to the classroom starting today

Beech Grove students return to the classroom starting today

Gayda is part of a teaching workforce that has seen its fair share of challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a 2022 National Education Association survey, More than 55% of educators said they were ready to leave the profession earlier than planned.

The survey claims it is largely due to teacher salaries.

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Gayda says an evolving classroom has taken it’s toll.

“It’s been a lot of a lot of change,” Gayda explained. “My grade book used to be a notebook, and now it’s instantly online. There’s good and bad with that.”

Gayda faces a new challenge as a new Indiana state law prohibits the use of cellphones in the classroom.

“I mean, everyone has got their phone in their hand,” Gayda said. “I think (the students) will live.”

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Despite the challenges that come with a new school year, the end of each summer marks an opportunity for Gayda to reconnect with his students.

“Tomorrow, it’s more about getting to see people you’ve not seen in a while and reconnect,” Gayda said. “That’s kind of a fun thing.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a show in Hendricks County Monday night, famed musician Lisa Loeb’s guitar was stolen outside the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.

Her crew was packing up after the show.

After she put out an acoustic APB on X, a local bar owner spotted a man walking in front of his establishment with the same guitar case he saw in Lisa Loeb’s post.

Joel Reitz co-owns the O’Reilly Irish Bar and Restaurant. He said he saw a ‘disheveled’ man walking on the street with the guitar case he recognized from Loeb’s post.

O’Reilly’s is on South Pennsylvania, just a few blocks away from the Conrad Hotel.

Reitz says after a drama-free conversation with the man and a couple of requests, the man gave the guitar to him.

The police picked up the guitar, as it was stolen property. Loeb later shared on Instagram that the guitar is already on the way back to her after IRC Music shipped it out.

Reitz said he wants to be a steward for the Indianapolis community.

News 8 has chosen not to name the woman involved in the domestic battery incident.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The owner of a popular Broad Ripple nail salon faces charges after police say he attacked a woman when she accused him of stealing money.

Tuan Nguyen, 43, owner DaVi Nail Spa in Broad Ripple, faces misdemeanor charges of battery, domestic battery, and battery resulting in bodily injury following the July 10 incident.

Court documents say an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer was dispatched to a home in the 6000 block of College Avenue to investigate a domestic disturbance.

They arrived and met with a woman who said she and Nguyen fought. When she came home that day, she noticed money missing from its spot under her bed, and asked Nguyen if he had it.

Nguyen denied having it. The woman then said she’d call the police.

The woman told the officer that Nguyen then “grabbed her by the hair and pushed her, causing them both to fall on the floor.” She also said during the fight, “Nguyen began pulling on her dog, trying to break the dog’s leg.”

The woman then ran out of the house to call 911.

Officers detained Nguyen at the scene, who once again denied having the money. He told investigators that after she threatened to call the cops, he “grabbed her by the back of her shirt and they fell to the ground and had a scuffle.”

Nguyen was then taken to the Marion County jail.

News 8 confirmed on Tuesday that he had been released and was back operating the nail salon.

Help is available for victims of domestic violence. Below is a list of suggested resources on the Domestic Violence Network website: