Q & A - Teacherlink

Posted on 29 September 2009

What is teacherlink?

Teacherlink is an online news and support network of Christian teachers.

 As teacherlink develops, it is hoped that ideas about teaching, resources, news, questions, encouragement will be part of the conversation on teacherlink.

Why establish teacherlink?

Teaching is a strategic and valuable profession for Christians to be in. It can be very rewarding; it can also be very demanding emotionally, spiritually and physically. Many teachers are supported and encouraged in their work, in their schools and churches and by family and friends. But not always so. We hope that teacherlink will be a means of support and encouragement of Christians in the teaching profession.

Teacherlink, then, can be a means of encouraging and facilitating prayer for Christian teachers and their work in our schools.

Longer-term, it is hoped that teacherlink will grow into a "community" of Christian teachers who are nurturing each other. From time to time we plan to hold events so that Christian teachers can be challenged and encouraged by gathering together.

Who can join?

Any teacher, any age, any school, any system, any level of experience. We hope that Christian teachers in our public schools in particular will see value in linking with other teachers for support and encouragement.

If I am at uni training to be a teacher, can I join teacherlink?

Most definitely.

One of the aims of teacherlink, as the name suggests, is to link teachers together, to share ideas and resources and provide news of appropriate events. This is very valuable for those in training: to be linked to more experienced teachers who can also have a valuable mentoring role of their colleagues-in-training.

What if I am an experienced teacher? Any value in joining teacherlink?

Again, most definitely.

To pick up the last point in the answer to the previous question: an experienced teacher can be a mentor to those training and to the younger teachers. Research is showing that the first few years of teaching are the most difficult and challenging; it is in this period that many leave teaching. Having an experienced Christian mentor can be of great assistance during these years.

I am close to retirement and some of my colleagues have retired. How can we help with teacherlink?

Your experience can valuably be used in the mentoring role.

Let us extend this further. A mentoring role on teacherlink can be important Christian ministry to other teachers and an opportunity for you to support, encourage and pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are serving in our schools. And you know how important a profession teaching is...

How do I join teacherlink?

It is very easy. Look on the AEC homepage for teacherlink. Click on this, put in your password and you have joined, ready to engage with others.

For further details about teacherlink, contact Ian Keast, Director of Christians in Teaching, at the AEC.