Several years ago I left the district that I was at for 7 years and it happened to coincide with the Edutopia post “How to Divorce Your District.” I loved the post and it perfectly summed up how I was feeling about leaving my position at the time. One of the things that I did not anticipate was the difficulty of adapting in a new district and the real sense of loss that I would feel for the comfort that I had taken for granted. I got through it and have no doubt it was the right move but it took a while for the new position to feel comfortable.
This year as we have expanded with 28 new teachers in my current school I can sense the same feelings in them. Many of them are experienced teachers with decades of experience and are outside of their comfort zones for the first time in a long time. It felt like a good time to pass along some suggestions based on my own experience as well as from working with a rapidly increasing staff over the past 3 years.
- Don’t Mourn the Loss of Reputation
Teachers who have been in the same position for years develop a reputation and it makes your life a lot easier. One of the hardest lessons that I had to learn when moving to a new district after 7 years in the same position is that your reputation, no matter how good it is, will not mean anything to the students and parents in your new district. I felt a sense of loss my first year in the new district as students were coming in the first day and it became clear they had no idea who I was and all of my past accomplishments did not matter to them. They were evaluating me based on what I was doing at that moment and taking any time mourning the loss was not going to help. You have to move forward in your new position and trust that your old reputation was based on a reason. Your reputation will develop again quickly in your new role.
- You Left Your Old District for a Reason
We tend to get caught up in nostalgia when remember the past and forget all of the things that drove us to look for a new job in the first place. You may have grown bored with what you were teaching, ran out of opportunities for growth, or had enough of negative co-workers. When you made the decision to move it was for a reason. Trust yourself and have confidence in that decision instead of engaging in revisionist history about your past.
- Embrace the Loss of Your Comfort Zone
Along with the loss of your reputation you are going to be well out of your comfort zone. Learning a new culture, co-workers, community, and instructional methods is going to put you in a place where you may no longer be the go-to person in your new role. The most destructive thing you can do is to cling to all of your old ways of doing things and constantly tell everybody how you did things in your last position. Approach the new position with an open mind and be willing to let go of some of your past ways of doing things. Also understand that you were hired for a reason and that your new co-workers and administrators want to hear your ideas but constantly telling them what your old school did is probably not going to be met with support. You have experience and expertise in what you are doing so let your actions and abilities catch the attention of those around you. Adapting to your new environment will make you a better educator and people will be more open to your ideas once they see you have embraced and understand the culture of your new school.
- Your Situation is Temporary
Any time you switch roles or move to a new district it is going to be like your first year all over again. It is especially true if you are moving from a position with low expectations and a traditional approach into a blended environment. You are going to be learning a new culture and many of your tried and true lessons are not going to work in a new setting. Just like with your first year teaching things will get easier and your situation is only temporary.
Moving to a new school is hard work but with patience and adaptability you will persevere and be better for it. Your new students and school are going to benefit from the continual addition of new staff with fresh perspectives as well. Keep focus on doing the best that you possibly can in your new role and pretty soon you will be the one welcoming a fresh batch of newcomers into your culture.
