I want to share a recent experience I had to illustrate this above statement. During the recruiting process I went through as an ES principal two years ago, I met two other candidates who applied to the same position as me and were on site interviewing at the same time as me. Instead of feeling competitive towards each other, I was really surprised that we instantly started helping each other through the process, understanding that the person chosen in the end would be the right one for the job. During the two days together, we gave feedback and advice to each other before and after each interview, we shared questions that were asked of us, genuinely wanting the best for the others. When we debriefed about it, we realized this was a commitment we all had made going into the experience, wanting it to be less awkward than it could have been and seeing this opportunity as a learning one. After this time together (all of us found a job somewhere in the end), we have stayed in touch and consulted each other when dilemmas arise in our respective schools. Two years later and I sincerely believe that collaborating and partnering with those two colleagues has made each of our schoolworld better. We have even published an article and recorded two podcasts about it! 

In the world around me these days, I am often noticing missed opportunities when people could be working together to improve a situation, but instead choose to work at it alone. 

In the education world on the other hand, collaboration is everywhere. At AAS especially, we value and encourage working together because we know it deepens and enhances learning for all involved. When you can teach others, when you have to work out a problem together, you are clarifying ideas and concepts, thus understanding them more deeply. Students are also more likely to want to learn from peers than from adults ;) 

In their role as teachers and curriculum planners, it is essential educators plan with their teams and collaborate on projects so that all students have similar experiences across grades and subjects and lessons are the best they can be. 

As guardians of the children, parents also collaborate with educators to support the students’ learning and development and ensure a comprehensive approach to their children’s education.

For me, one of the key benefits of collaborating is to gain different perspectives and insights so that I can elevate an idea and make it better. Working together makes each of us and our initiatives better. I truly believe it is not a hindrance to individual success.  

My hope is that what we strive to model at AAS transposes to the world outside the school walls and we can all make our world a better place. 

https://www.neasc.org/high-quality-learning/insights/insights-host/~board/posts/post/leading-with-care

by Julie Villers

ES Principal