I am reminded everyday about the importance and power of circulating in a school and checking in with teachers, students and parents. A simple trip into the library just after dismissal can lead to a planning session with teacher and LAT for an anxious, struggling student. It is a lofty goal to try and connect with each teacher and each student in a building each day but it is one that is worth pursuing each and everyday. By getting out into the hallways and classrooms at every possible moment you can gain understanding of the intricacies of how relationships are developing and what learning is happening. Those impromptu conversations and interactions can lend a great deal of insight into how you might support a colleague or student.

Not only, do these opportunities arise for improving understanding of what’s going on, but they are very often chances to build collaboration, support program implementation, share a resource, reflect, connect and ultimately strengthen practice. Being available in this way can facilitate anything from helping a classroom teacher find the resource they need to brainstorming universal design strategies for inclusion in a particular classroom or subject area.

Being visible and accessible is crucial to building trust, dialogue and positive collaborative cultures.