Grade-level teams can make your year feel supportive… or completely draining. In this episode,I’m joined by Jenna Everetts (aka @ThatStrongTeacher) to talk honestly about navigating team dynamics, communication challenges, and collaboration struggles teachers face at every stage of their career.

We unpack what to do when you feel unheard, left out, or pressured to teach in a way that doesn’t align with you, especially as a new teacher or someone new to a grade level. Jenna shares real experiences from her own teaching career and introduces her F.A.N.S. framework for building stronger, healthier team relationships.

In this episode Jenna shares:

1. How to communicate needs and concerns using simple, effective language
2. What to do when teams feel cliquey, unbalanced, or hard to break into
3. How to advocate for yourself while still being a supportive teammate
4. Why celebrating small moments and sharing resources matters more than you think
5. Practical ways to build trust and connection with colleagues over time

Send Zeba a voice message

Connect with Jenna:

1. Instagram - @thatstrongteacher

Connect with Zeba:

1. Instagram - @kindergartencafe
2. Facebook - @kindergartencafe
3. Website - www.kindergartencafe.org
4. Tik Tok - @kindergartencafe

Mentioned in this episode:

Social Emotional Lessons

Download the free Social/Emotional Lessons: https://kindergartencafe.org/social-emotional-lessons