Photo by Kevin Grieve on Unsplash
I’ve just finished listening to the latest episode of Teaching in Higher Ed, with Bonni Stachowiak interviewing Jamie Moore – and the conversation really hit a nerve. So much of what those two brilliant women explored resonates far beyond the university context. Much of it felt entirely relevant to our secondary classrooms. And yet, I often find myself wondering: why is there such a divide between higher and secondary education? Who decided it had to be that way?
It’s now been exactly a year since I stepped out of the classroom, but today’s episode brought me straight back to those precious moments where the traditional hierarchy of ‘teacher’ and ‘learner’ gently dissolved. Moments where we were simply learning together, side by side.
To be fair, those instances of shared learning were more common in my A-Level and IB Diploma classes. I was right there with Jamie and Bonni when they spoke about the thrill of evolving your content. For me, the joy came in choosing which literature we’d explore. Even within the more structured A-Level framework, I found ways to switch things up, keeping the texts fresh and relevant. And discovering the open-ended possibilities of the IB curriculum? That was nothing short of magical. Like being a child in a sweet shop – discovering incredible texts together with thoughtful, curious young people.
But this episode also gave me pause. Jamie spoke about a powerful practice she and her Puente teaching partner, Ambar Alvarez Soto, Ed.D., developed – something they called Student Recovery Circles. At a point in the semester when both students and staff seemed to be emotionally and mentally absent, they decided to stop everything. They paused their curriculum plans, brought their two classes together, rearranged the furniture into a circle, and created space to just be.
Together, they breathed. They wrote. They listened – each person, including the instructors, taking a turn to share what was going on for them. No grand objectives, no fixing – just presence, visibility, and a sense of collective inquiry. Jamie emphasised how simply facing each other and sharing in real time reminded them that they weren’t alone. That they belonged to each other. That this, too, was learning.
It really struck me. How often do we, as educators, feel the weight of things silently? We push through. And our students feel it too – that subtle undercurrent of disconnection.
These days I teach adult learners – curious, funny, deeply engaged humans who bring their whole selves into the room. We always begin by checking in: what have we done for our own learning lately? We listen, celebrate, support, care. It feels a little like a circle, even if we’re not always sitting in one.
Hearing about Jamie’s work made me wish for more projects like the Puente Project in my own world – or at the very least, to weave more of that spirit into what I do. That’s why I love the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast. Bonni and Jamie aren’t your typical academics. They are the kind of professors we all wish we’d had – grounded, thoughtful, human. Listening to those two women reflect on their practice was a genuine joy.
As the episode ended, I caught myself smiling. Because really – being different, doing things differently – that’s not something to shy away from. It’s something to treasure. Yes?
Education is my shtick, and at times, my passion to rethink everything doesn’t always sit well with the systems that prefer the status quo. But those people aren’t my clients. As a team coach, I’m dedicated to creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Just like the Student Recovery Circles Jamie Moore shared, I believe in the power of collective inquiry, shared learning, and genuine connection.
If you’re looking for support in building stronger, more cohesive teams where every voice truly matters, let’s explore how coaching can unlock new possibilities. Together, we can strengthen communication, foster trust, and enhance collaboration.
Ready to take the next step? Get in touch, and let’s start the journey towards more meaningful teamwork!
Candida Javaid Coaching & Mentoring 