One of the great things about the teaching profession is the sharing of expertise, knowledge, skills and experience that happens regularly in schools and beyond, including through professional organisations.
– Jo Earp

Contributed by Karen Nemeth, Author and Exchange leader.

We talk about building a sense of belonging for children in early childhood programs, but have we seen a decline in belongingness for educators? We benefit so much from having thought-provoking conversations with colleagues. They make us feel supported and understood in our professional lives. They give us renewed energy and new insights.

In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared a “loneliness epidemic”. Is this affecting our professional relationships? Organizations have switched to online meetings and virtual conferences – less opportunity for side conversations. Travel and conference costs skyrocketed. As we encourage self-care to protect work/life balance, will this reduce the pool of volunteers and organizers? Cutting down on stress and commuting are important goals. More college courses are online. Professional development is a recorded webinar. Recently, I learned that special interest groups I had previously chaired in two national organizations have stopped functioning this year because no leaders stepped up. Then, I attended an informal video get-together of like-minded education colleagues and we all seemed so grateful to spend time sharing our experiences and learning from each other.

In other words, I could feel the need for these interactions while watching other opportunities slip away. I hope employers will support these activities.

What are you doing to build professional bonds? Do you meet with colleagues locally or on video chat? Do you participate in nearby chapters of professional organizations? Do you participate in a professional book study?

We’d love to hear about your creative suggestions and experiences. Share with us!