by
The 2024-2025 school year is upon us, and it’s time to begin another 180-day journey with students, parents, and fellow teaching colleagues. This year marks my 25th year in education. On the eve of this quarter-century milestone, I recall from my early years of teaching, one of the most interesting “icebreaker” questions posed during an in-service training before the first day of school. “What song would describe how you feel at the beginning of the school year?” Without delay, my rapid-fire response was “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake. Now, if you suddenly conjure visions of a woman doing cartwheels across Jaguars and big 80s hair, that’s not why this song popped into my head. Instead, it’s the lyrics of the song that have always resonated with me. Like many songs of that decade, the lyrics have a much deeper meaning than what makes cringe-worthy cinematography for MTV.
Reflecting on how I answered this question may seem humorous initially, but there is much truth revealed in the lyrics. How many of us feel we walk alone in this high calling known as teaching? How many struggle to step outside our comfort zones to be transparent with colleagues? However, experiencing the weight of our calling and the struggle to connect with colleagues is what can unite us. We share similar experiences, challenges, and victories. We are not alone in this journey! In my early years of teaching, I thought that to be successful in meeting the needs of my students, I needed to focus only on improving myself and not be distracted by intricate collaboration efforts. What I failed to realize was that to be the best for my students, I needed a robust support system that consisted of those who understood the challenges and difficulties of being an effective classroom teacher. It wasn’t until my fourth year of teaching, when I participated in a summer institute for science teachers, that I learned the power and necessity of true collaboration and community.
After a long day when your lesson didn’t go as planned, a parent sends an angry email, and an unannounced fire drill derails your explicitly planned hands-on activity, you begin to think you are walking down that lonely street of dreams. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Coming together as a community provides a powerful support system where educators can work together to fulfill our mission of loving students and teaching passionately. This collaboration is not just a formality; it’s a formidable tool that empowers us, revealing that we are not alone in our struggles and have the collective strength to overcome them. True collaboration reflects accountability, empathy, and encouragement, and it’s the key to our success.
And so, we can take some advice from this cheeky hair-band song: Don’t waste any more time. Instead of traveling this journey alone this school year, let’s not be afraid to build relationships with those with whom we share a calling. Go beyond the friendly wave in the parking lot, the nonchalant greeting at the Keurig machine, or sitting at the back of the room during collaborative meetings. Start by initiating conversations about shared experiences or challenges, or offering to help with a task or project. Stretch yourself to have deep, meaningful conversations with those around you, especially those who teach a different subject or grade level. Take the time to truly get to know your colleagues and find ways to encourage each other in the months ahead. You may just find that the street of dreams is crowded with those who share the same goals, struggles, and desires to meet the ever-changing needs of our students. These relationships will make our journey more fulfilling and our mission more achievable.
Ms. Mary Elizabeth Farmer teaches middle school science at American Leadership Academy in Lexington, South Carolina. She was selected as the 2024-2025 Nathan Yon Institute Teacher of the Year in May of 2024.
