The people you interact with often will remember you. Ask questions, share ideas and resources that you like. Reach out through Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Join FB groups and talk to the people there.Follow companies whose products you use or who have engaging content: TeachBoost (for instructional coaches), Flipgrid, Screencastify, etc.īut don’t just follow them, interact with them.For example, if you enjoy writing and education, follow a lot of education bloggers (Jennifer Gonzalez from Cult of Pedagogy, Kasey Bell, John Spencer, George Couros, etc.).Start following people in the field you’re interested in on social media. There are also several different teacher transition groups available if you want to look beyond education. Facebook groups make it easy to interact with people in the specific niche areas you’re interested in.Twitter is fast-paced and can be overwhelming for many people, but it is a quick and easy way to share content and connect with educators.Instagram is image-based and it’s easier to avoid some of the content you don’t want to be bothered with. There are huge communities of teachers, coaches, etc.This is where professionals network but even if you're staying in ed, you can connect with school leaders from anywhere. LinkedIn is a must if you’re trying to transition out of education.How to get started:įigure out which social media platforms work best for you. If heading out into the world to randomly meet strangers who might help you get a job seems a little overambitious, take a step back, and think about making connections from the comfort of your own home first. So how does a teacher start networking? Start with social media and the internet We operate in the bubble of our school, oftentimes not even venturing into the slightly larger bubble of our district.įor teachers looking to transition out of the classroom, this insulation from the contacts and connections in the community can make the task of transitioning even more daunting. Did you look around and wonder what the two women with their Macbooks open were doing? Did you wonder about those four people to your right shaking hands and introducing themselves over their Panera bread bowls and salads? I know I often think, “hmm, I wonder what his job is?”Īs teachers, this world seems closed to us. Think of the last time you got to have lunch “in the real world” on a school day (or a normal day to everyone else). Not only are teachers isolated, but in many ways, schools are isolated from the rest of the outside world. By the time you leave for the day, you’re so exhausted, you go straight home, put on your jammies, and relax with a cup of tea (or glass of wine). You might venture out at lunch, but let’s be real, 25 minutes isn’t actually enough time to connect with the people around you. Through every class, the door is closed in your insulated world. You get to school early, close your door so you can focus on grading without interruptions, scurry to the copy machine hoping there isn’t a line, and work right until the kids come.
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