“Let’s just be human:” kindergarten teachers leveraging collegial supports during the first covid-19 school year

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although efforts have been made to improve teacher professional development and ongoing supports, limited research has examined how early childhood education (ECE) teachers support each other informally. The present study describes how one type of informal support, collegial support (e.g. instrumental and expressive), enabled ECE teachers to cope with the first full school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through qualitative interviews, 14 kindergarten teachers shared the various ways they received and perceived collegial supports, and the system-level resources that enabled them to leverage their colleague’s expertise and assistance. ECE teachers expressed how they cared for their own well-being and shared the desire to continue doing so in the future. Implications for low-cost and nimble teacher supports and professional development are discussed.