#BetterTogether Isn't Just a Mindset; It's a Lifestyle

THe BRIDGE - AUGUST 10, 2025

When I was pregnant and teaching middle school history, my next-door teammate Colleen was also expecting.

We taught the same groups of students—me for history, her for English—and our classrooms shared an adjoining door.

That door became more than just a shortcut. It became a signal, a silent lifeline.

If one of us cracked the door open during class, the other would step in without a word.

We’d glide into the back of the other’s room and hold space until the quick restroom break was over.

It wasn’t formal. It wasn’t planned. It was just understood.

The Power of Unspoken Community

We didn’t talk much about the daily juggling act of teaching while pregnant—there wasn’t time, and we didn’t need to.

It was a season full of unspoken understanding: the fatigue, the unpredictability, the emotional weight of showing up for students while carrying a new life.

There was something sacred about the simplicity of it. No permission needed. No questions asked.

Just: I’ve got you.

That rhythm reminded me that I was part of a community—a group of humans who saw each other, who stepped in quietly when needed, who made the impossible days feel possible.

In a role that often feels isolating, especially when you’re the only one teaching your subject, that small gesture was everything.

We couldn’t plan lessons together, but we could calibrate on the kids.

And that made our conversations—about students, families, and life—richer, more meaningful.

When the Hallway Disappears

Later in my career, when I stepped into leadership, I didn’t have the luxury of shared walls anymore.

No automatic neighbors. No doorway signals. Instead, I found myself moving across campuses, floating between meetings, holding space for others without anyone necessarily holding space for me.

It was a different kind of isolation—the kind that’s easy to dismiss as just “part of the job.”

But that memory of community stuck with me. I missed it. I needed it.

So I did something new: I looked beyond my physical surroundings. I reached out online. I joined communities of educators on Voxer and Twitter (back when that was a thing). I started connecting with people who were thinking about the same things I was, just from different buildings, cities, and time zones.

Redefining What “Together” Means

That shift cracked open a whole new version of “Better Together.”

I realized that the kind of support Colleen and I had isn’t about proximity—it’s about mindset. It’s about believing that none of us are meant to do this work alone.

And it’s about being brave enough to build community wherever you are.

Now, I seek that kind of connection on purpose. I look for the people who get it, who give generously, and who don’t wait to be asked to step in.

And I try to be that person for others.

Because even when there’s no door to crack open, we can still show up for each other.

The Magic of Showing Up

Teaching is hard. Leading is hard. Life is hard.

But when we find each other—when we say “I’ve got you” without needing the whole backstory—it gets lighter.

And that’s the magic.

WEEKLY MENTORSHIP MOCKTAIL RECIPE

The BetterTogether

Sweet, tart, and beautifully balanced, this mocktail knows that the best things happen when we combine forces.

The BetterTogether brings together the rich depth of pomegranate juice, the bright zing of fresh lemon, and the golden warmth of honey.

Shaken over ice and poured with intention, it's crowned with a colorful berry skewer that's as much about sharing as it is about sipping.

Whether you're celebrating a collaboration or simply enjoying the company of someone who gets it, this drink reminds you that everything's better when we're in it together.