professional practice

A year ago, Angela left the classroom to spread one idea: we were never meant to teach alone. This is the personal story behind that conviction — how a shared office in Indonesia changed everything, how losing it in South Africa proved community isn't automatic, and why, twenty years in, she still believes one trusted colleague is where it all begins.

September feels full of promise. But four to six weeks in, the same patterns return. This isn't a professionalism problem — it's a design flaw. Teaching was never meant to be done alone. Before the school year begins, have one honest conversation with a trusted colleague. Not a meeting. Not an agenda. Just a real conversation that could change everything — for you and for the students you haven't met yet.

In every school, there’s a truth we don’t talk about enough: sometimes the hardest part of collaboration isn’t the work — it’s a teammate. Teaching is human, and humans bring history, fear, pride, and resistance. I once worked with a colleague who pushed against every part of our learning community model. I couldn’t change him, but I learned how to change the conditions around him. This is a story about navigating resistance, protecting the team, and doing the hard things tha