Change is good. Change is hard. Change is constant. Change requires resiliency. When we consider the fear that comes with change, it clearly has the power to paralyze or send one into a downward (or upward) spiral. Reading Elena Aguilar’s work with a focus on teacher resiliency, it is evident that a need for teacher support is paramount in assisting educators in their ability to adapt to required changes. As I reflect on the chapters from Onward, I am left wondering about the impact of a school community. Perhaps reinforcements from colleagues are equally as important for developing resiliency as inherint grit. A strong system of support could be what makes or breaks a teacher’s spirit during this isolating time.
Many years ago, when I was a new teacher in the first few weeks of a mid-year start, a colleague checked in on me at the copier, asking if I was doing okay. I said yes and she took a look at what I was printing. She invited me to her room to show me a few other resources she had that would go with the content I was preparing. This effort to connect had an unmistakable impact on my teaching, as she became an unofficial mentor to me. A few months later, another teacher stopped in to ask if I was going to the end of the quarter happy hour. I said I had things to finish up before Spring Break. He picked up a crate piled high with things to take home for over-the-break planning, and left my room. Over his shoulder he said he’d meet me in the parking lot. Needless to say, I hurriedly turned off my computer and gathered the last of my things before following. I built connections with other teachers during that afternoon that ultimately led to collaboration and professional growth.
As much as change is a challenge for us all, let’s work on being there for one another. As an educator, we must look for ways to build community during this challenging time. It may just prove to be the most valuable thing we can do to build resiliency and the ability to adapt to the required change.
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