By Tom

For some reason, teachers tend to pair up. Maybe it’s because, like cops, we need someone to back us up. Maybe. Perhaps the two of you have the same teaching style and you love to plan together. Or maybe you started teaching at the same time in the same school and you’re the only two from “that generation.”

Ot it could be that your principal assigned the two of you to work the same grade level five years ago and you’ve been stuck together ever since.

Whatever the reason, most of us are lucky not to have to go it alone. We’ve got a partner.

Last week, the better half of my partnership received some bad news from her oncologist. She’s having some major surgery next week and will be gone from her classroom for a long time.

So what does her partner do? A lot:

• Offer – no, insist – on working with her sub to plan lessons and assessments.
• Stay in touch. Daily.
• Get her students to write cards
• Donate sick leave
• Bring food
• Be there when she gets back to help with the transition

We’re not in this alone. We need each other, sometimes more than ever.

And while I’m at it, today is the second-best day of the year to do something about your half of the partnership. Teaching, done correctly, is not a sedentary profession. We’re not exactly stevedores, bricklayers or centerfielders, but we don’t just sit there. At least we shouldn’t.

So get healthy. Stay healthy. Do it for yourself, your family, and your students.

Do it for your partner.