The Power of Connection – Blog Post #2

Debbie Simōes

Published on: 19/07/2025

“The quality of our relationships = the quality of our lives.” Take a moment and think of the best teacher you ever had. Odds are, it’s not their grading policy or their pacing guide that stands out. It’s how they made you feel—seen, heard, safe, capable, valued. Those feelings don’t come from authority. They come from influence. And that’s the heart of what we call Classroom Leadership in High Five to Thrive.

Connection

The Power of Connection – Blog Post #1

Debbie Simōes

Published on: 13/07/2025

If you’re a teacher, your to-do list is probably a mile long. Lesson plans. Grading. Emails. IEPs. Copies. More grading. But in the midst of all the pressure, there’s something deeper tugging at us. Something not found on a checklist or pacing guide. A quiet reminder of why most of us stepped into this profession in the first place: to make a difference. To matter in the life of a child. To be that person a student remembers—not just for the content we delivered, but for how we made them feel.

Connection