Education Foundation Director of Educator Programs, Nicole Light, had a single-minded goal this year when planning the upcoming Education Roundtable Talks for 2024-25: to create a safe and nurturing space for teachers to connect with their peers. Light, a former teacher herself, intimately understands the challenge of getting teachers to come out on a Saturday morning to attend an educational presentation. Her lineup of speakers was impressive enough to build attendance, and, while the presenters were engaging and informative, the bigger take-away for Light was to witness how the collaboration unfolded within the groups.
“Teaching is hard, and sometimes we can feel like we’re working in a silo. For us to be able to offer this space for teachers to connect, share their stories, their challenges, and together find workable solutions, is one of the most rewarding parts of my job at the Education Foundation,” Light stated.
The first two Roundtables were well-attended, thanks to the help from school ambassadors that Light recruited. Sarasota County teachers in all grade levels, elementary through high school, attended, despite delays and rescheduling due to hurricanes, and the response was beyond expectations. In the post presentation survey, 78% of teachers expressed that they had gained knowledge and strategies that they could use in their classrooms with their students. And 100% responded that they had made a connection with colleagues in the district during the session.
“Thank you for the chance to attend this workshop,” commented one of the participants. “It felt good to be in fellowship with other teachers in the district who want to invest in their academic life.”
It is apparent that the Education Foundation and Light have discovered the secret sauce that resonates with teachers. “We want teachers to feel supported and have a sense of belonging. This program is working because the power lies in the teachers themselves. It is teachers bringing teachers to the table.”