• Jenna Bush Hager prepares for back-to-school season
• The mother of three tells PEOPLE that two of her three children will be attending new schools this year
• While their children prepare for the start of school, Today Co-host and former teacher partners with Kleenex to support students in educational spaces and provide them with the materials they need to thrive

Jenna Bush Hager enjoys the last days of summer.

The Today The 42-year-old co-host has spent a lot of time with her family this summer, creating beautiful memories with her husband Henry Chase Hager and their three children – Hal, 5, Poppy, 9, and Mila, 11.

As families slowly adjust to back-to-school mode, Bush Hager is partnering with Kleenex to raise awareness about the importance of being there for students in classrooms and equipping them with the materials they need to thrive.

“I’m trying to get through the last few weeks of school off in a way that allows my kids to enjoy this unstructured, relaxed time together. I also want to maintain that summer feeling on the weekends into the fall – so I’m trying to get outside and have quiet weekends,” Bush Hager tells PEOPLE.

As the family of five prepares for the start of school, their busy mother, herself a former teacher, has to answer questions about what to expect in the new school year.

“Listening to the kids and hearing what they’re going through is important. My daughter is going to middle school. My son is going to a new school. So we talk to them about how they’re feeling and go over our routines so they feel prepared.”

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For Mila, the eldest daughter of the book club founder, a good start in middle school is the priority.

“She’s excited, but I think she knows that there’s a different time ahead of her. I think we talk so much about how hard middle school is. I try not to put that label on her, because who knows? Maybe it won’t be hard for her,” Bush Hager tells her. “But I also want her to know that if it gets hard, she has a soft place to land.”

“But she’s excited. I think she’s excited to be more independent. She’s excited to stand up for herself a little bit more. But my goodness, it’s so crazy,” she continues.

“It’s such a memorable time for all of us for so many different reasons and so I think more than anything we try to be there for her so that when things are easy or difficult or friendship stuff comes up, she has a place to come without anyone judging her and talk to us.”

As she prepares to put together school supplies for her three children, Bush Hager is also working with Kleenex to make sure the children are stocked with essentials in their own classrooms.

“When we think back to our school days and even today, we needed pencils, paper towels and Kleenex boxes. It makes so much sense that on its 100th anniversary, Kleenex is giving back to the people who need it most, namely educators,” she says.

“When I was a teacher, something that shocked me – and still shocks me – is that teachers actually spend money out of their own pockets on the teaching materials they need,” she continues.

“The fact that Kleenex is giving back to the community by offering schools the opportunity to receive a $100,000 donation, with an additional $400,000 distributed to 100 other schools through DonorsChoose, is such a great gift. If you’re like me and appreciate what teachers and schools are doing to care for both our children’s education and their mental health, you can nominate a school. It’s remarkable how many roles teachers combine into one, and now parents like me can make sure our teachers and schools are recognized.”

Bush Hager hopes that other parents will also get involved in their children’s education, as the new year offers the perfect opportunity to help.

“I think it’s good to introduce yourself to the kids’ teachers. They have the hardest job. I try to introduce myself. Whether you write a letter or an email on the first day, you just say, ‘Hey, I want to introduce myself. I’m Mila’s mom and I’m happy to meet you. I’m here if you need help. Tell me how.'”

From her own experience as a teacher, Bush Hager continues, “If you ask a teacher, ‘How can I help you?’ trust me, they need help. Whether it’s restocking books or supplies, they need someone to help them. So my goal is to introduce myself and find out how I can help and offer support before I have to start asking questions about homework or writing emails about things that have been left in the classroom. That’s what I know we can do and what I will do.”

Anyone can nominate a deserving school now through Monday, August 26 by visiting kleenex100years.com. Participants are asked to write a two-part statement explaining why their school deserves the donation. Schools are evaluated using an objective set of criteria, and those selected are those that embody Kleenex’s mission to provide students with the resources they need to navigate everyday moments of vulnerability and thrive.