Learning to identify allies. Part 3

For my two classes this fall at Goshen College I have been assigned field placements at Goshen Middle School and Bethany Christian Middle School. I have enjoyed observing in both classrooms as well as getting to know two high quality teachers. I am also in the unique position of working at a school and interacting with teachers daily. Through my job at Bethany one of the things I have appreciated most is lunch time in the faculty lounge.

As a graduate of Bethany it took me the first year and a half to feel comfortable entering the teachers lounge. When I was a student the lounge was off limits to students, so that was part of the dilemma. The other problem is that I did not feel comfortable "lounging" with my former teachers. Now that I am past that stage I have found time in the lounge to be wonderful. The teachers at Bethany are very supportive of me. Most of them know that I am taking classes to get my teaching license and many will check in with me to see how my classes are going. They have been open to me observing in their classes and want to do whatever they can to help me.

I have a friend who teaches at West Noble High School. We got together last weekend and she was telling me that in her education classes she was told to avoid the teachers lounge. Her professors told her that nothing productive happens there and that teachers go there to complain about the administration. I do not feel like this is the case at all at Bethany. Teachers, administrators, and other staff members eat lunch together and it is a time to check in with each other and share ideas about how to best educate some students. I have felt Bethany to be a whole school of "allies" for me and my journey to teaching.