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PEDAGOGY & LEARNING

Leaving Our Homes With Grace: Lessons From Transitions

By Matt Hajdun
07-Jun-23
Leaving Our Homes With Grace: Lessons From Transitions


“Welcome to your new home!” 
“Your new family awaits.”
“Our community is ready to support you.” 

For those that have had the privilege of serving in multiple international schools, you’ve received the care and warmth of being accepted into a new institution. And many of these places are more than the brick and mortar buildings; they are held together with human connection, kindness, and love for the learners that we serve, no matter where in the world we serve them.

For many, being transient is a part of the international school experience. However, for many others, these schools, these communities, are truly the homes where people guard their hearts, their passions, and their full selves. It is humbling to know that when we leave, no matter the impact, our former schools will go on, enhancing future generations. For those who are departing, it is easy to get caught up in our emotions and experiences, but we do a disservice to our communities - the places where our learners and many of our colleagues stay - when we spend too much time looking forward, wounding the work that remains unfinished, and/or emotionally or mentally checking out before our time of service draws to an end. In the end, we have to remind ourselves that it is not about us, the individuals, but about our communities and how we can lift them up and depart with dignity.

So as this academic year draws to a close, I invite fellow international educators who are about to embark on their own transitions to reflect on their experiences, accomplishments, and the relationships they have built during their tenure. As I prepare for my fourth international transition - this time with a partner, a toddler, and two dogs - I offer six reflections (which evolved more from learning from mistakes than wisdom or foresight) that I hope resonate with others as they depart their current homes.

1. Leaving a lasting legacy on learning

Every teacher has the power to make a lasting impact on their students, colleagues, and the overall school community. By dedicating yourself to ending the academic year strong, you ensure that your students receive a complete educational experience and that your efforts are fully realized. Aim to complete any pending tasks, fulfill commitments, and provide closure to your students, leaving them with positive memories and a sense of accomplishment.

2. Celebrating achievements

Take the time to celebrate the achievements and milestones attained by your students and colleagues - if you can find the time, celebrate yourself too! Recognize the growth and progress and highlight the accomplishments, however big or small they may be. You’ve made change, so highlight it to sustain it. By acknowledging the efforts, you reinforce the success, provide closure, and inspire all to continue the journey.

3. Maintaining positive relationships

However long you have been in your current placement, you’ve built strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. As your time comes to an end, those relationships still need to be nurtured. Trees need less care than seedlings but still require our attention to flourish. Take the time to express gratitude and appreciation to your community for their support and impact throughout the year(s). While you depart on a new adventure, the institution remains, and many of those we say goodbye to will need closure and want a chance to cherish final moments with you. We inevitably will be in a new place, creating a new community, while the people we leave behind return to this setting without some of those people with whom they forged bonds.

4. Supporting new colleagues with sustainability

Do your due diligence to ensure a smooth transition for both students and staff. Creating dashboards, transferring files, tidying up spaces - every effort we can make to facilitate the transition of our successors ensures that learning and school systems are sustainable. Again, it is not about us, the adults, but about what is right for our learners and what will help our communities thrive after we are gone. Finish strong so that next year those left behind can focus on fostering new relationships rather than filling holes in the ship.

5. Cultivating a professional network

Maintaining positive relationships within your current school sets the stage for expanding your professional network. The international education community is interconnected, and by ending the academic year strong, you establish yourself as a dedicated and reliable educator. These connections can prove invaluable in the future, whether through collaboration opportunities, job referrals, or professional development resources. It is much harder to repair a burned bridge than to build a new one.

6. Focus on the positives

The places we are leaving now are not perfect; and, while there is value in the tendency to look forward with rose-colored glasses, it is important to remember that where we are headed most likely isn’t perfect either. During your time at your current school, you’ve probably fought for change, challenged the status quo, and offered constructive feedback to try to leverage learning and improve systems. At this point in your process, things are unlikely to change before you depart. More good will come in your relationships and for the overall health of your community if you lean into the assets and share gratitude for any of the new learnings or insights you gathered during your time.

By concluding our tenure at our current school with integrity, professionalism, and positivity, we set a solid foundation for future endeavors and ensure a seamless transition for incoming staff and provide continuity for our students. Our impact as educators extends beyond the classroom and ending the year with grace and positivity ensures a smooth transition and sets the stage for continued growth in the international education community. Let us be gracious to those who welcomed us into their homes and keep the gardens fertile so that our learners across the globe can grow to their fullest potential.

 

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Matt Hajdun is currently the assistant director of learning for language development at The Columbus School in Envigado, Colombia, and is transitioning to the role of head of primary school at Atlanta International School. He has worked internationally in Honduras, Brazil, Belgium, and Colombia.

Twitter: @HajdunHomeroom




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Comments

07/02/2023 - Mangala
An insightful article about transitions. Made me reflect on how I transitioned when I moved from schools. The last point needs to be highlighted because I have known a few who leave because they did not like something, be it people, systems or policies and forget that the school is still up and running even after their departure and it needs positive engagement not grudges and fault-finding.