Blog Post #7
List 3 colleagues you would like to reconnect with in the next month. Don’t give their real names, but after you take a mental inventory regarding your relationship with each of them, identify what you know and what you’d like to learn about them.
ReplyDelete1. First colleague I would like to reconnect with is the teacher I student taught with at the High School Level. She guided me in the right direction to get myself to where I currently am. She even helped me get a job with the district and sign a contract during my student teaching, so i was able to work full time as a teacher while finishing my college degree. She is now a principal at a middle school in our district. I would like to reconnect with her and see how things are going in her administration position. I would like to catch up on how her life has been both in the work environment and in her home life. I would like to know how she became such a great mentor so I can help teachers in the future.
2. The second person I would like to reconnect with was a former history teacher of mine. I had him in middle school, then he transferred to the high school and I was able to have him again. He was one fo my favorite teachers. His passion for what he taught was very apparant and he was always such a great man. We send Christmas cards, and I recently went back to my home town and stopped in the school to see him, it was great. He was teaching though, so we only got to say hello, its great to see you and give a hug. I would like to see how his family is doing, he has such a nice family. I also want to learn how he developed such a passion for teaching, and how after all these years he still has that same passion.
3. The third colleague I would like to reconnect with is a secretary at the school I worked at before I as transferred for the year. She carries the school on her back (like most school secretaries do), students and staff members alike all love her. She helped me learn a lot about how the school ran and what to expect. Now that I am at a different building, I would like to sit down with her and see how she is doing. After all these years of helping me, is there anything I can do to help her?
The first colleague I would like to reconnect with is my faith-filled colleague. She is someone who listens, truly cares, no drama, and makes those around her better. Due to us being in different stages of life and our busy schedules, we have not found time to just sit down and chat. I would like to hear how her family is doing and all about her beautiful grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThe second colleague is a fairly new staff member. We work in different areas in the building, so I hardly see her. I do notice that she is working hard to develop positive relationships with our students. I would like to learn more about her and let her know that I see her and the connections that she is making.
The third colleague is a teacher who has a full plate. She goes above and beyond for our school, our students, and our community. Busy lady would be an understatement. I need to check in on her with her favorite drink in hand to see how she is doing, what help she may need to accomplish her goals, and just let her know that what she does matters.
The first collegue I would like to reconnect with is Mary, who has recently been on an extended leave for an illness. I don't know anything about what she has been going through or what that entailed. I have taught with her for several years and have taught all of her children, and yet I don't know that much about her everyday life. We trade "hellos" and other pleasantries, but that's all. I would like her to know that I am there and would be happy to help her in anyway she needs.
ReplyDeleteThe second collegue is Martha. She is a long-term sub in our building. In the last 2 years she has been around a lot because of paternity leave and illnesses. She is a retired teacher and I didn't know her when she taught before. The times I have interacted with her have been wonderful and I would like to get to know her better. I'm sure she could give me some great advice and I'm sure she has some phenomenal stories.
The third collegue is a good friend that I haven't kept up with as well as I should have this year. This person is always there for me and yet, this year we have both let the "busy-ness" of the year get in the way of our friendship. I need to touch base with her and get our friendship back where it was - for the sake of both of us.
The first would be our new Superintendent. She is obviously new to our district, hired this past spring. I know she has a son in the military, as do I. She looks at data and test scores and that seems to be a focus for her. I do not know what she does on her free time or what she is interested in outside of school
ReplyDeleteThe second would be our new para at the high school. She was previously at the elementary and chose to move to the JH/HS. I had her son in school, several years ago. She is very good with the students that she works with and spends a great deal of time learning the material with them. Once again, I do not know what she likes to do on her free time or what her hobbies are.
The third colleague would be our secretary. She has been at our school for 2 years now and is wonderful. She brings a smile to everyone's face, is creative in the projects/ideas she does for the school. I have brought her coffee after she helps me with some projects I need ideas for. I have had both of her children in class, but once again, I do not know her interests/hobbies. Does she like to read, cook, binge watch TV?
Last year we had 2 teachers move up a grade with our students. We had incredible kids and the 2 teachers were so influential for teachers as well as students. I would really like to reconnect with both of them. Yes, we are still in the same building but complete different areas. I love asking for advice about these kids and great lessons that could be incorporated into all of our discipline areas. Both of these teachers were former Teacher of the Year, and their enthusiasm really rubbed off on me.
ReplyDeleteThe third colleauge I would like to connect with would be my cooperating teacher from when I did my student teaching. She was so enthusiastic and fun and would really bring life to her lessons. Although I don't think my lessons are bad, I just really love how bubbly and full of life she is. Our kids were the same age and aalthough they were not in the same school, they did sports together so we were always chatting about school and teaching. I miss that and would really like to reconnect with her.
#1- My PE technology professor. I learned a lot from him and I would love to get more of his advice, now that I am a teacher. I would ask him if he has switched up any of his teaching methods and why
ReplyDelete#2 I would love to catch up with my colleague who switched schools. I wonder how teaching is going on in his new school and if he has any new/good ideas that we can bring to my current school (his old school)
#3 My 7th grade Social Studies teacher. He was always such an inspiration. I would love to see if he is still teaching/ what he is up to. I would love to get his perspective on students today compared to when I was his student. What has changed? What has he had to change teaching wise, due to this.
1-A SPED teacher I work with. I would like to move more of our conversations to things about her instead of just work related conversation.
ReplyDelete2-A new ESP who started this year. I would like to get to know her personally.
3-A teacher that I haven't had the best working relationship with. I want her to see that I am there to help support her.
ReplyDeleteColleague one would be our middle school Title Math teacher. I have known him for the 25 years I have taught in our school district. I would like to get to know him and more things about his family.
Colleague two would be our industrial arts teacher. I have known him also for a long time, but never really gotten to know him better.
Colleague three would be our Ag/FFA instructor. She has only been a part of our school district for two years, but she has a great repour with our students and her programs have strong numbers. I would like to learn from her on her instructional approach and her many successes in her classroom.
Great blog post, it really made be reflect on getting to truly know someone, not just the outside perspective, but the overall three-dimensional person.
1. Colleague 1 would be a teacher I used to teach with years ago & now we're both at the same school again. We have rooms pretty closed to each other. We were colleagues, but weren't really close at the first school we both worked at. Now that we're both at the same school, it would be nice to reconnect & get to know her more about her family. I know she has a husband & 2 children, but that is surface level things. I wouldn't mind getting to know her more than what I already know now, considering we've worked at 2 different schools together.
ReplyDeleteColleague 2 would be a title teacher from my school. Sometimes I know I miss understand her, so I would like to be able to get to know her for our professional relationship to grow and better service the title students.
Colleague 3 is in her second year of teaching. She is older as she had kids first, then went to college. I have her daughter in my class this year & would love to get to know her better. She works with the upper grades, so I hardly see her during the school day, but would like the opportunity to learn more about her.
1. My first year of teaching, the 5th grade teacher next door to me who had been teaching for 30 years. She was so welcoming to me when I arrived at the school and was such a sounding board for me throughout my first year of teaching. She not only shared with me about school tips, but we had long conversations about her family. Her kids were close to my age and it was so nice to have a "mom" when I was over 2 hours away from home. I have her on Facebook, but would like to reconnect with her and see how she is doing, not only in teaching (she is close to retirement) but also how her family is doing. I know she was super excited to become a grandma, which happened recently.
ReplyDelete2. My co-teacher at my previous school. We leaned on each other for so much in the classroom from content, to planning, to behaviors. Our families ended up becoming close out of school and we did many activities all together. Now that I stepped away from teaching, we haven't seen them in quite some time and I would like to reconnect with them and be able to do events and suppers together again.
3. The special education teacher/my co-teaching partner. She relied on me quite a bit her first few years of teaching and we developed a close friendship at work, but also outside of work as well. Since then, she has moved closer to her home, about 1.5 hours away from here. We actually have plans to get together in a couple weeks when I will be in her area visiting. I am looking forward to catching up and seeing how her new school is going, but also how life in general is for her these days!
Colleague 1- My special Ed co-teacher. Becky is so dedicated to her students and always puts others first. She is dependable, thoughtful and respectful. I know she carries a hard caseload and is torn in many directions. I would like to know who she's really doing right now-- what is weighing on her. I want to understand what she needs and offer to help in any way I can.
ReplyDeleteColleague 2- Our 7th grade veteran SS teacher who is right across the hall from me. Karen is calm and steady, but has a great sense of humor that often goes unnoticed. With limited time, our conversations are always focused only on the task at hand. I'd like to learn more about what she enjoys outside of school. I would like to have a genuine connection with her and not only talk about school stuff!
Colleague 3- Amy -She is passionate and creative and cares so deeply about doing what's best for kids. Recently, she's experienced some negative changes that seem to be shifting her perspective. I'd like to better understand how those changes have affected her and how I can support her. I want to listen and not assume anything.
The 1st would be 1 of the new paras in our elementary. I know she is married and some of her interests, but haven't gotten much time to really get to know her. How does she spend her free time?
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd would be one of the elementary teachers. We have been teaching in the same school for years, but she recently went through a divorce. I don't know anything about her life outside of school or what brings her joy.
The 3rd would be our new Superintendent. I got to know her a little bit during our book study, but would love to learn more about her. Her likes and interests. What brings her joy? What does she do in her spare time?
List 3 colleagues you would like to reconnect with in the next month. Don’t give their real names, but after you take a mental inventory regarding your relationship with each of them, identify what you know and what you’d like to learn about them.
ReplyDeleteMy first colleague that I would like to reconnect with in the next month would be my mentor teacher in which I was her student teacher in my first placement. I use to be in contact with her and we would meet for coffee, but we don’t connect anymore. She moved to different elementary school, I wonder how she’s liking her new school and the grade level she is teaching.
The second colleague that I would like to reconnect with in the next month would be one of my middle school teachers. This teacher showed great interest in me as an individual, but as a learner. When I was struggling with the academic side, she worked with me and gave me the extra support that I needed. I would love to just have a conversation with her and to reconnect with her, get to know her now as I’m an adult.
The third colleague that I would love to reconnect with this month would be a teacher that I had in high school. She always made learning fun and I always looked forward to her classes. I would love to learn about what she likes to do outside of school.
The first colleague that I would like to reconnect with is the Science teacher that I taught alongside at my previous school. Her son was one of my students and I would love to know where he is at now and what he is up to, as well as what her and her husband are doing now that she is retired.
ReplyDeleteThe second one would be the aid that I had in my classroom. Because we spent the entire morning together, we got to know each other well. When the 9-11 attacks happened, I watched first hand the fear a mother has whose son is already enlisted and the uncertainty of whether or not he was going to be deployed. That was my last year before transitioning to a stay at home mom, so I don't know if he was ever deployed or what their family is up to these days.
And thirdly, my supervising teacher when I student taught. She was the sweetest lady, so kind and patient and loved what she did. Over a decade later, we were contemplating moving back to that town and during our interview process, we were walking through the school. We ran into her in the hallway and she remembered my name and mentioned how much she enjoyed our wedding all those years before. We only had a couple of minutes to catch up, as she had to get back to class, but it would be fun to catch up on what has happened over the last twenty plus years.
Colleague #1- I would love to reconnect with my partner teaching back in the day. She and I both taught Language Arts/Reading/Social Studies together. She has an amazing sense of humor and could always put a smile on my face. I would love to reconnect and share how life has been going as well as catch up on how teaching is going for her in Sioux Falls.
ReplyDeleteColleague #2- I would also love to reconnect with my neighboring teacher back when I was a full-time teacher. He is now a Middle School principal, and I would LOVE to hear how it's going? Does he love it? How is it different from having your own classroom?
Colleague #3- My final colleague would be my previous secretary. She was the nicest lady. She was like a grandma to every student (and staff member). I wonder how she's doing. Is she still living here in town? Does she miss the kids?
Colleague #1- I'd love to reconnect with my student teacher from over twenty five years ago. I have followed her on social media and see her occasionally around town but would love to sit and have coffee with her and tell her about how she impacted me in education and catch up on our lives now.
ReplyDeleteColleague #2- I want to reconnect with a sixth grade teacher that moved away midyear. She was an amazing educator and I'd love to see how she and her family is doing today. I know her oldest children are graduating high school this year.
Colleague #3- My kindergarten teacher from Denver Colorado. I was a quiet, shy anxious little girl and she made my first experience in school a beautiful thing. I often wonder where she is. How long was she teacher? And I'd love to tell her thank you for being a safe place in my scary world.
School Social Worker – I don’t know much about her personally, but I love watching how she interacts with children. I’d like to learn more about her strategies and what inspires her work.
ReplyDeleteElementary Behavior Interventionist – I know she is energetic and approaches situations from a unique perspective. I’d like to learn more about her techniques and how she maintains her energy and positivity.
Head Start Teacher – I know she always has a smile and exudes calm. I’d like to learn more about her classroom routines and how she cultivates such a peaceful environment.
Our English Department is struggling right now. We have lost — or are about to lose — three teachers this year. Two are leaving for new opportunities, and one was diagnosed mid-year with an aggressive cancer and chose to retire so he could spend his remaining time making memories with his daughter. The combination of high turnover and the loss of a deeply valued colleague have taken a personal and emotional toll on department morale. I feel us slowly losing connection with one another, and I want to help create space for us to reconnect, support each other, and rediscover some joy in our work together.
ReplyDeleteI was especially drawn to the suggestion in Teachers These Days about creating a shared Google coffee-preference spreadsheet, and I may start there by surprising everyone with their favorite drink at an upcoming meeting. I am a strong believer in Key Idea #4: Feed your colleagues, because small acts of care can rebuild connection in meaningful ways. What I most want to learn from my colleagues right now is how they are truly doing — what has felt heavy this year, what support they need, and what still brings them moments of purpose or laughter in the classroom. I also want to hear their hopes for our department moving forward so we can intentionally rebuild a culture rooted in connection, compassion, and shared belonging rather than simply surviving another difficult year.
The first colleague I would like to reconnect with is someone who I worked closer with last year, she was just down the hall. She moved to a different grade level. With this move, I feel like I haven’t talked with her in a while. I would like to know how her year is growing, if she is enjoying the change. She went up several grade levels, so I would also like to know what it is like making that big of a switch.
ReplyDeleteThe second person I would like to reconnect with is also someone who I worked closer with last year. This person received a promotion and moved to a different part of the building. With her new duties, it just feels like she is less available. I really miss this person because she always had a good listening ear and provided good input and advice when I needed it. I know in her new position she appreciates catching up with people too, so I just need to make it a priority to reconnect.
The next person I would like to connect with is a teacher that teaches kids that are several years older than I do, therefore she works in a different part of the school. I would like to connect with her more because I appreciate her enthusiasm for what she does. She always seems to have a great attitude, and that can be such a breath of fresh air.
List 3 colleagues you would like to reconnect with in the next month. Don’t give their real names, but after you take a mental inventory regarding your relationship with each of them, identify what you know and what you’d like to learn about them.
ReplyDelete1. The first colleague I would like to reconnect with is my mentor from when I first started. When I taught in the classroom we were a lot closer, now that I teach P.E. I rarely have the chance to catch up with her. She is so knowledgable, doesn't let anything bother her, and is just a great friend. I love her work ethic and the time and care she puts in to teaching her students.
2. The second colleague is my old partner teacher. We started teaching 5th grade together 11 years ago. He still teaches 5th grade, but as I said, I moved to PE, so we don't collaborate anymore. He was also a hard worker, always stayed cool, calm, and collected. He was a great partner and teammate to have!
3. The third colleague is a 3rd year teacher and she is actually now my neighbor. I think our age gap hinders our connection a little bit, and I'm not overly talkative. She is spunky and has a great attitude! I think it would be fun to get to know her a little bit more and get ideas from her on just her management style with second graders.
The first colleague would be my first assistant coach. After I moved on to a different school, we lost touch with each other. He is a great coach and I learned a lot about coaching and dealing with players, parents, administrators from him. When we worked together we talked a lot about other things and not just basketball. He truly is a great friend and person.
ReplyDeleteMy second colleague is the priest in our school. He is a young priest but is always there for students and staff and I have not gotten to know him better because I have a lot of questions about the Catholic faith and it seems that our paths don’t cross as much as I would like them to.
My third colleague would be our school president. He has gone through a lot in his life (open heart surgery), multiple heart attacks but he has always put the school first and he is always on the go which makes it hard to just sit down and pick his brain about the school and the climate of the school and how we can make it better.
1) I would like to reconnect with "Justin," a teacher at my first high school teaching job. Being a new teacher, I picked out the most successful teachers and those that had the best repour with students and watched them. This teacher would often drop by and ask what I was doing and I got a lot of ideas from this teacher.
ReplyDelete2) I would like to reconnect with "Sam." I often interacted we are still colleagues but upon reflection, I have had very few interactions with this teacher over the past few years. We are on different floors and teach different subjects, so we just have not gotten a chance to visit lately. This teacher is always positive and professional, and I always got good advice on questions about school or life.
3) I would like to reconnect with "Marcus." We both were involved in after-school activities and always ran into each other at sporting events and other activities. We both loved these activities and believe they benefit students. This person always put students first and had strong relationships with students who realized that he cared about them outside the classroom as well as in.
The first teacher I'd like to reconnect with would be the 4th grade teacher at the school I used to teach at. I taught 3rd grade there and she was a phenomenal teacher. We were good friends and I'd like to know how she's doing. How has her career been since I left. How her family is. What has changed at the school. I would also love to get ideas from her on how she teaches certain topics in her classroom since I teach 4th grade now. I love collaborating so this would be a great start.
ReplyDeleteThe second teacher I would like to reconnect with would be another teacher from my past school. We were both 3rd grade teachers and again, good friends. She was a great mentor for me when I first started teaching and I've learned a lot from her. I haven't talked to her very often since leaving and I think it would be great to see how life is treating her.
The third teacher I would like to reconnect with would be my college professor. She was such a great role model and an amazing teacher. It would be nice to chat with her about my teaching career and listen to her advice for me.
List 3 colleagues you would like to reconnect with in the next month. Don’t give their real names, but after you take a mental inventory regarding your relationship with each of them, identify what you know and what you’d like to learn about them.
ReplyDelete1. The first teacher that I would love to reconnect with is the teacher that I did my student teaching under. She was amazing and taught me so much. We also became good friends. I know that he kids are now grown and she just retired. She is also a breast cancer survivor. I would love to see what she's doing now and tell her all about my teaching career and my family. She was always so encouraging and uplifting and just made me feel like I was doing an awesome job.
2. I would like to reconnect with a teacher I taught next door to for several years. She moved to a different state and we don't keep in touch any more. She was an awesome person/friend to collaborate with, laugh with, encourage, and so much more. She made my job so much fun! Of course, the students were fun, but having that teacher friend next door was just like a dream. I would love to see where her career took her and things that she learned along the way. I would love to fill her in on everything that has happened in my life and career as well.
3. The 3rd person that I would like to reconnect with would be a teacher in my own building, but due to our schedules etc, it's hard to ever find the time to talk. She always has a smile on her face whether it's a good day or a crazy/tough day! I know she has gone through some tough times this last year and I would love to listen if she needs someone to talk to and fill her in on how things have been going for me, my family, and my job. She is always that calm voice that everything is going to be ok and I appreciate her.
J - P - and G. I’d have a basic understand of their families but I’d like to reconnect to see how their lives are going, what's keeping them busy outside of school, and how their kids are doing. There never seems to be enough time during the school day to check in on one another but if I put forth a conscious effort I know that I could find the time.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been thinking about three specific people at school I’d like to catch up with properly. First is the colleague who always has the most incredible, natural-looking classroom; I know she has a great eye for design, but I’d love to find out if she has a creative outlet or studio practice outside of school that keeps her inspired. Then there’s one of our long-time teachers who has that calm, seen-it-all presence I really admire. I'd like to sit down and hear her stories about how the community has changed over the years. Finally, I want to reach out to the person who is always saving us from tech disasters. I know he's incredibly helpful and has a quick sense of humor, but I’m curious about what he does to actually unplug and relax when he's not fixing everyone else’s problems.
ReplyDeleteList 3 colleagues you would like to reconnect with in the next month. Don’t give their real names, but after you take a mental inventory regarding your relationship with each of them, identify what you know and what you’d like to learn about them.
ReplyDelete#1 (Kinder coworker)-I know her family background and how involved her kids were in school. What I want to learn from her is how she dealing with the death of her oldest son. He unexpectedly passed away almost a year ago and I want to know how she feeling and how she is dealing with it, especially with her very high in behavior class.
#2 (one of my paraprofessionals)-I know her culture and language background, but what I really want to know is why she does the things she does at school. There are some things she does in my classroom that I judge her for, but instead of judging I should just straight up ask her. The only thing I fear is that she will get in her head and think that I nagging on her, being snoopy, or wondering why I am asking her these questions. She tends to hold a lot of grudge, so me asking could make her feel a way. However, if I ask her these questions it could give me a better understanding of her.
#3 (SPED coworker)-I know so much about herself, her family, and her job, but I want to learn from her is how to do better with my finances. She came out of college without much debt, only uses credit cards to purchase things, and has investments in stocks. I hope to become that financially responsible one day so that I don't have to worry about money, worry about trying to come up with paying for unexpected costs, or not having to worry about living paycheck to paycheck.
List 3 colleagues you would like to reconnect with in the next month. Don’t give their real names, but after you take a mental inventory regarding your relationship with each of them, identify what you know and what you’d like to learn about them.
ReplyDelete#1 - I know this colleague has been at the district for a while. Coffee wouldn't be appreciated, but some pastry or sweet would be. I want to know more about their past. This would include childhood and especially high school. It would help me to understand who they truly are and where they came from.
#2 - I would want to know about their visions for their future. I don't know what their coffee order would be but I know it would be appreciated. I wan to know where there kids are these days (literally and figuratively).
#3 - I know they would love black coffee or tea (gross). I want to know about how she grew up out east and what that was like. She has talked about her home town and the issues they had there with race relations. I want to know how she navigated that to become the person she is today.
Colleague 1 is someone I met during my college years in the education program. We went through coursework and field experiences together, and I always remember them as a highly dedicated learner with a real passion for elementary education. That energy was contagious and honestly motivating for me at the time. Since graduating, we’ve lost touch, and I’d really like to reconnect to learn more about where their professional career has taken them, what still inspires them in education, how their family life is going, and any advice they might have after years in the field.
ReplyDeleteColleague 2 is someone I worked closely with during my first few years of teaching at my current school. They served as a mentor to me in many ways, always willing to answer questions, offer honest feedback, and provide the kind of candid advice that shaped how I approached teaching early on. I look back on that time as incredibly formative. Since they’ve moved on, I’d love to reconnect and hopefully find ways to collaborate again or at least reestablish that professional connection and shared support we once had.
Colleague 3 comes from my coaching experience. This is someone I connected with deeply through coaching conversations rather than day-to-day collaboration on the field. Since they moved out of state, we’ve drifted apart, but I always valued the way they could step back and offer a calm, thoughtful perspective on the more nuanced and emotional side of coaching. They had a way of seeing beyond X’s and O’s and helping reframe challenges in a grounded way. I’d like to reconnect to hear how their coaching journey has evolved and to reestablish that kind of reflective, supportive dialogue.
I have two specific colleges that come to mind I would like to reconnect with, I know about their families. I know who they go home to and what sports/activities their kids are in. I don’t know a lot about them personally. I love the idea about the favorites. We fill out an interest form at the beginning of the year, but it’s only shared with admin and not each other. I would like to suggest we share it. I love bringing a “pick-me-up” when I can. I want to learn about their interests to that I can start a conversation when I see them.
ReplyDeleteFor a college on my team, it would be nice to learn about how they feel their day-to-day goes. This way, we can help each other if possible. I want to learn about them as a person because sometimes I feel like an outsider. If I knew more about them, I feel like we could collaborate more.
I also have one very successful colleague that comes to mind, that I would like to pick her brains and see what her classroom is like. The one in particular is new, so I don’t know a whole lot about her and she teaches a different grade, so I don’t get a lot of time to connect. I would go back to the questions we ask in our teams… “What do the kids need to know? What do we do if they know it? What do we do if they don’t?” and how she uses this to structure her classroom. She obviously has great connections with the kids and I’d love to learn how she does it.
Sorry some typos! I can't go back and edit.
DeleteKelsey Berletic
ReplyDeleteOver the next month, I’d like to reconnect with a few former colleagues—specifically those who, like me, struggled during the 2021–2022 school year. Reflecting on where we all are now, I’m realizing how curious I am about their journeys and how much I still value those connections.
Lex
I know Lex recently had another baby and has transitioned into a principal role. Back in 2021–2022, we both struggled in our teaching positions, and at one point, we each had plans to leave. I followed through with that transition, but she chose to stay in teaching right before the school year ended. I’d love to understand what led her to that decision and whether moving into a new role and building has positively impacted her mental health. I’m genuinely curious about what shifted for her—and whether that’s something I could have experienced as well.
Julie
Julie and I both left teaching in 2022, but she eventually returned to education in 2024 in a different capacity. She’s no longer in the same school and now supports teachers rather than leading a classroom full-time. I’d like to learn more about the steps she took to return and what influenced her decision. We both had challenges with administration, so I’m especially interested in how she found a healthier or more sustainable role. I also want to better understand how I can support her as a friend.
Kris
Kris also left teaching in 2022 and transitioned into a college role, where she supports low-income, low-GPA students as they adjust to college life. She hasn’t returned to a traditional classroom, and I’m curious if she ever plans to—or if she’s found her long-term path outside of K–12 education. I’d love to hear how she views her career now compared to a few years ago.
Reflection
Looking across these relationships, a pattern stands out: I’m drawn to reconnect with people who experienced the same challenges I did during my final year in the classroom. Even though I’m no longer teaching alongside them, I still care deeply about their well-being and their paths forward.
I also recognize that during my last year, I carried a lot of frustration, and I may have expressed that more than I intended. Part of reconnecting is not just learning from their experiences, but also showing that I value those relationships and want to move forward in a more positive, supportive way.
At the same time, I’m hoping to learn from them—how they navigated their transitions, what helped them reach a healthier place professionally, and what I can take from their experiences as I continue shaping my own path.
The first colleague is a newer teacher. I know they are still learning the routines and expectations of our school. I would like to know about their background, what led them into teaching, and how they adjusting into their new role. I want them to feel more supported.
ReplyDeleteThe second colleague is someone I have worked with before but haven't connected with recently. I would like to learn what challenges they are facing if any and if I can be of any support for them.
The third colleague is someone who tends to keep to themselves. I know they are reliable but I don't know much about their interests or life. I would like to learn more about them and build a stronger connection.