The Beginning of Change

By Jen Brandl & Jen Parker

“None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” — Mother Teresa

The wonderful things we’re able to accomplish become so much easier with a partner. In today’s educational day and age, this partner would be a member of your Professional Learning Community (PLC). But imagine how much more powerful it would be if she were your best friend!

Partnerships are built on trust. We’ve both been a part of high functioning partnerships and some not-so-functional. The secret to this PLC’s success was built in its development. We met through our children who went to the same daycare as babies. Mothers who, over time, developed a friendship and shared the joys and trials of motherhood while teaching (in different districts). The friendship and collegiality grew when we had the good fortune to teach in the same district, as one of us taught 8th grade Science and the other taught 7th grade ELA. Fast forward five children later and many highs and lows in middle school to an opening in the 8th grade Science department and these two educators became a force to be reckoned with.

Now, did it all happen so seamlessly? Probably not, but the strength in this partnership which is the basis for all the wonderful things we accomplish with students is due to the slow and careful tending of our friendship.

And did we mention we share the same name? That means it must have been fate!

We have grand hopes for this year, as we do every year, but this year we have a singular focus. To NOT return to the norm. In a time of pandemic when everyone wants to return to “normal”, our goal is to move as far away from the norm of education pre-pandemic. We have no doubt with the guidance and support of our learning cohort that this is possible.