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The Power of a Team: with MHES 1st Grade Educators Gloriana Prow and Shari Brimsek
The Power of a Team: with MHES 1st Grade Educators Gloriana Prow and Shari Brimsek
By: Audrey Thornborrow
I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of Mississippi Heights’ elementary teachers: Gloriana Prow and Shari Brimsek. These two educators have been in the business long enough to tell some amazing stories, but nothing compares to the story of the last twelve months. I reached out to these ladies because of their positive attitude in the face of uncertainty, their teamwork through thick and thin, and their willingness to reach out to learn new things, especially when those new things make them very uncomfortable. I admire their tenacity. I admire their can-do spirit. I admire their ability to ask when they need a helping hand, and I wanted to learn more about these aspects and from where they came.
Thinking back to March 13th of 2020 to now, what are you most proud of in terms of your teaching?
Thinking back to March 13th of 2020 to now, what are you most proud of in terms of your teaching?
Gloriana: I’m proud of our adaptability. We had to change so many things we were used to being able to do. We really had to put ourselves out there because there were so many things with technology that we had no clue about, and we had to go with the flow.
Shari: I think back to the 13th of March and the following two weeks we had to plan, and I felt like I was in a different country. Because I didn’t even know the language we were using. Thank goodness for our team. I feel so strongly about that. This is the first time I had to rely so heavily on someone else, and that was uncomfortable. I didn’t really like that feeling, yet they were there to help us so willingly.
Gloriana: We are so confident with what we are doing in our classroom, but with this, we had to rely on others who had expertise in technology.
Shari: But now when we talk, I understand the language. The growth in technology has been enormous for me. I am now willing to try things, just push buttons, and figure it out. Also, using technology isn’t just an event. It’s simply integrated and part of every day. I’m also proud that we didn’t quit. I think we lost a lot of great teachers this year, but we stuck with it and didn’t give up.
Gloriana: YES! We made it! We are proud of that.
If you could go back in time and talk to yourself on March 13th, 2020, what would you tell your 1-year younger self in preparation for the upcoming year?
If you could go back in time and talk to yourself on March 13th, 2020, what would you tell your 1-year younger self in preparation for the upcoming year?
Gloriana: First, take a deep breath.
Shari: It’s ok to rely on your team, and it will be ok.
Gloriana: If you have questions. Ask them. Someone will have the answer, and you aren’t in this alone.
When students learn about this time of Covid, what do you hope they’ll be taught about the year of 2020 and what took place in education?
When students learn about this time of Covid, what do you hope they’ll be taught about the year of 2020 and what took place in education?
Shari: The importance that was placed on relationships with students. We all knew we needed to put relationships at the forefront, and I’d want people to know we did just that. I’d also want them to know that educators were heroes in 2020.
Gloriana: Yes. We started something we didn’t know how to do. We hung in there. We worked together, and we never knew when things were going to change.
Shari: Also, distance learning was so different in the spring than it was in the fall.
Gloriana: Yes. We learned so much in the spring and made live classes possible in the fall. We were able to give necessary feedback in the fall, and it wasn’t so one-sided.
Shari: We’ve come so far.
Gloriana: Just think. When we started this fall, if a student went into quarantine and we had to live stream home to them we were like, “You want me to do what?” But now it’s not such a big deal. We have confidence that we can do it.
One of the reasons I asked you here today is because you are such a great team. You have supported each other immensely throughout this entire time. But your 1st grade team is also a strongly knit, supportive team. Can you talk a bit about the power of teamwork?
One of the reasons I asked you here today is because you are such a great team. You have supported each other immensely throughout this entire time. But your 1st grade team is also a strongly knit, supportive team. Can you talk a bit about the power of teamwork?
Gloriana: Well, we always plan together. At first, during distance learning, we started working off the same slides. But as we started going we split things up based on each teacher’s strength. Whether it was going through the manual, building a Google site, or creating videos, we shared the load. This year, we still plan together, but we are able to add our own styles into our teaching because we’ve all grown so much with the curriculum and the technology.
Shari: We know each other really well. We don’t have secrets. There’s no judgement or pressure, and we are really accepting of each other’s ideas.
You talk about how you are very close. How did that happen? The first grade team has seen many changes in teachers each year I’ve been here, yet you are always a strong team. How do you do it?
You talk about how you are very close. How did that happen? The first grade team has seen many changes in teachers each year I’ve been here, yet you are always a strong team. How do you do it?
Shari: Well, off the record, I hired them all. :) But all joking aside, I have to know the people I work with, so I can trust them. And I think we are all like that. We've gotten to know each other very well.
Gloriana: Yes. And we get together outside of school.
Shari: We WANT to get together outside of school!
Gloriana: This team helps in any way they can. They care so much, and everyone is so true. We laugh together. We cry together. We just support each other.
Shari: We just like each other. It's that simple.
Thank you, Gloriana and Shari. It was a pleasure to sit down with you to discuss the learning and growth that happened for you both this year. Your wisdom is invaluable, and I appreciate you taking the time to share it with me.
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