When Everything Feels Uncertain, Educator Connection Should Be Non-Negotiable

Across the country, educators are navigating growing complexity—rising student needs, shifting expectations, and inconsistent support. Recent reporting from Education Week highlights these concerns, capturing how stress, burnout, and a loss of connection are keeping teachers up at night.¹ But these aren’t just individual struggles—they’re symptoms of systems not built for the realities of today’s classrooms. And we recognize that for many districts, when resources are stretched thin, even essential supports can feel just out of reach—but listening to educators and elevating their voices can reveal powerful, often untapped, solutions

But amidst the weight of it all, one truth remains clear,

Educators flourish when they learn from each other.

Just as students learn best through connection and collaboration, teachers do too. The most effective professional learning doesn’t happen in isolation—it grows in community. It’s in the hallway conversations, shared lesson ideas, and moments of collective problem-solving that real transformation begins.

In a time when federal professional development funds are frozen—when budgets are tight, and uncertainty feels constant—we can’t let connection be the first thing we cut.

At CUE, we’ve known this for over 45 years. And we believe more than ever: Community is not a luxury. It’s essential infrastructure and teachers need more than PD, they need each other.

Resourceful Doesn’t Have to Mean Resourced

Yes, the freeze on federal Title II-A funds for teacher development is real, and yes, it impacts districts across the country. But it doesn’t have to mean the end of meaningful support.

Even when budgets are already allocated, creativity within existing structures can open doors. Decision-makers can explore how to braid funds from Title I or IDEA to support collaboration time or instructional coaching. Rural education and school improvement grants may offer flexibility to fund peer mentoring or cross-site networks. And Title IV-A rollover dollars can be leveraged for tech integration projects—especially those rooted in educator-led inquiry and innovation.

Of course, every district’s funding picture looks different—and repurposing dollars requires thoughtful alignment with each program’s goals. But with creative planning and a strong case for impact, there are still pathways forward

Just as importantly, schools can reimagine how time is used—not just how funds are spent.

Build in time for structured collaboration during the school day.
Support peer mentoring and cross-role coaching.
Create shared planning routines that encourage reflection, experimentation, and problem-solving.
Recognize the power of informal learning networks, not just formal professional development.

Connection doesn’t require a massive budget. But it does require commitment.

Connection Is a Cornerstone of Learning

A well-supported, connected educator isn’t just more likely to stay—they’re more likely to reflect, innovate, and adapt instruction in ways that meet the moment. When teachers feel seen, heard, and uplifted by their peers, that energy ripples outward. It reaches classrooms and students.

We can’t afford to wait for the perfect funding cycle. We have to lead with what we already know:

Investing in educator connection is one of the most powerful, low-cost strategies we have.

In times of constraint, we may have to do less overall, but we can protect what matters most.

How CUE Can Help

We know school leaders are balancing enormous pressures—academic recovery, staff burnout, shrinking budgets, and rising expectations. In that landscape, finding time and resources to support professional learning can feel nearly impossible. The choices leaders face aren’t about what’s ideal—they’re about what’s sustainable, impactful, and equitable under real-world conditions.

At CUE, we don’t just believe in educator connection, we build the structures for it. This has always been the place where educators come to connect, learn, and grow—together. We help schools support the people at the heart of the system: educators.

If you’re a leader looking for ways to support your educators with meaningful, lasting connection, we’d love to talk. CUE membership is one of the simplest ways to keep your team inspired, informed, and part of something bigger. Reach out to explore how you can bring your educators into the CUE community—and lead the kind of change that lasts.

Written by Rae Fearing, Director of Programs at CUE.

1 Arianna Prothero & Vanessa Solis. “The Top 10 Things That Keep Teachers Up at Night.” Education Week, November 26, 2024. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/the-top-10-things-that-keep-teachers-up-at-night/2024/11