When I started teaching on Monhegan, (almost five years ago now!) I came into the school as a lone teacher, right out of college, without the slightest idea of what I was doing. I had no curriculum, no experience, and really no support in terms of my teaching. I was scared, clueless, and quickly became very isolated. When people would ask me about what I was teaching or how, I would immediately become defensive because I was so insecure and sure that I was doing everything wrong, but I did not want anyone to know.
All of that has changed now because of something called the
Outer Islands TLC (Teaching Learning Collaborative)! About two years ago this group emerged from the teachers of the outer islands one and two-room schools. How we came together is kind of a long story, but the important part is what we are now... a team. It is like all of our schools are now sharing one school. My students have inter-island classmates and I have colleagues.
We work together to plan curriculum, projects, lesson, assessments, field trips, and just super fun school activities and events. We collaborate using technology but we are also lucky enough to meet face to face throughout the year. We are dedicated to each other. We work not only to help ourselves and our own students and schools, but we work to help better each other's teaching and students as well.
The group has grown and changed over the last few years but the commitment and energy has stayed consistent. We are all so different, which is what makes us work. One member's weakness is another member's strength. When one of us is struggling, there is someone else who can pick up the slack. We have gone through a lot as a group, but we have seen what we are capable of and it is pretty stinkin' amazing. Not only have we bettered our students' education and really become innovators in the world of education and collaboration, we have bettered our own teaching craft because we have pushed each other to be the best we can be.
I also think one thing that can be said for our group, which may not be true for all education "teams," is we truly like each other. Over these years we have gotten to know one another in ways that not all teachers get to. We have fun together. We know about each other's lives. We struggle and succeed together. It is pretty wonderful.
I cannot really imagine what my time on Monhegan would have been like if the TLC did not form. I wonder if I would have lasted as long on? All I know for sure is that what the TLC has brought to me and my school is immeasurable. For me personally, it has allowed me to learn how to collaborate with others, grow as an educator, gain confidence in myself as a teacher and as a leader, and work with people I truly admire and respect.
Leaving the TLC is going to be one of the hardest parts of my time coming to an end on Monhegan. The possibilities are endless for this group and it is because of the dedicated teachers and our amazing coordinator (and the support from so many other fabulous people and organizations) that we have come so far. But, it is because of the TLC that I can go confidently out into the education world and know that my experience teaching on Monhegan and working with this group will help me with whatever professional adventure I want to conquer next.
Anne, Lindsay, Donna, Paula, Josh, Heidi, and Lisa.... thank you. I am honored to call you all my colleagues and friends!
