Meet Miriam Singer | School Leader and Founder of EdCourageMentor, a Community Where Teachers Support Teachers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miriam Singer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miriam, what inspires you?

The teacher floats around the classroom, seemingly as if walking on air. As she speaks, her words encircle her students, engaging them, motivating them to collaborate, innovate, and think deeply. She guides her classroom as effortlessly as waving a wand. Growing up, I thought that teachers were magical beings from whom learning just naturally poured out of. Now having been an educator for sixteen years, I realize that teaching is both an art, a science, and a work of heart (as well as a lot of planning, work, and preparation). When I see talented, passionate, and caring teachers, I am truly inspired.

There are many misconceptions about teaching. You’ve probably heard teaching romanticized by the uninitiated: the cushy hours, the summers off, the ease factor of the job. Little do these uninformed realize the sheer hours that teachers put in planning, grading, teaching, assessing, counseling, coaching, attending meetings… It’s exhausting merely listing the myriad of roles that a teacher fills. Furthermore, what other job do you know where the employee has to plan their bathroom trips in advance? More insulting, however, is the oft-repeated adage that “those who cannot do, teach.” This could not be further from the truth: some of the teachers I’ve encountered have been some of the most talented, innovative, forward-thinking people I’ve had the privilege to know. They could have done anything; they chose to teach.

There are many reasons that teachers decide to teach. They were inspired by an impactful teacher in their life. They want to change lives. They love the content of their field and want to educate others about it. They have a passion for social justice. They view teaching as a noble endeavor. They think education can be transformative. They think teaching is fun. They enjoy the challenges presented by teaching. They have a passion for working with children. They’ve been told they have a knack for teaching. They love learning.

Be forewarned, however: Teaching is not for the faint of heart- it is an act that is simultaneously audacious and thrilling. Every day in their classroom, up to forty sets of eyes will be watching , forty sets of ears will be hanging on every word said, forty brains will be recording the teacher’s every move. Teachers hold the awesome responsibility not just to teach their students content but to impart the knowledge and skills to take on life as a successful human being.

There is no job more challenging or important if done right, and when it is done well, it truly inspires.

This was my impetus for starting EdCourageMentor. We were all new teachers once, and although every experience is unique, teachers share common struggles. We share the things we wished we would’ve heard as a new teacher. EdCourageMentor is so much more than a blog; it is a community of teachers supporting teachers. Although we are virtually based, we provide advice, encouragement, useful resources, self-care tips, classroom management and instructional strategies, humorous teaching anecdotes- anything that will allow teachers to continue to find joy in their career so they can continue to inspire young minds and shape the next generation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to make a difference in the world, but I wasn’t sure exactly how I would make my mark. When I was in high school, we were reading about the Progressive Era. On the day we focused on John Dewey, a light bulb went off for me. His philosophy, to move schools beyond a factory model and to have students perform critical thinking, struck a chord with me. I realized that I could make the greatest difference and help improve our world by reenvisioning our education system and by shaping future minds.

Therefore in college and graduate school, I focused on education. Throughout my eight years in the classroom, I developed strategies and teaching methodologies to be the best possible teacher that I could be. When I was asked to become a teacher support provider, and then a department chair, a director of curriculum who coached teachers, and finally now as a school leader, I came to another realization: teachers are the backbone, heart, and soul of a school. A school could have no technological resources, no books, even no walls, and, as long as there is a teacher and a student, learning can occur.

I was fortunate to have excellent mentors as I came through my teacher preparation and throughout my career in the classroom. Their feedback was invaluable to my growth as an educator. But not everyone is as lucky to have guidance and support. This is one of the primary reasons (even higher than low pay) that teachers burn out. Teachers take a year post-graduate to earn their credentials, and then several more years to clear them and earn tenure. And despite this time and financial commitment, the average span of a teaching career is 2.5 years. And after pandemic, teachers are even more exhausted and feeling more unsupported than ever.

This is why I started EdCourageMentor about 8 years ago. I wanted every teacher, regardless of location or resources, to have access to advice and a community where they could find support. We have teachers on every continent (except Antarctica) who are part of our community, illustrating that the need for connection and support is real.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a native Los Angelina, a valley girl to be exact. I used to live in Sherman Oaks, and would frequently haunt Aroma Coffee and Desserts on Tujunga. Their decadent desserts, delicious sandwiches and salads, and pleasant patio makes it such a quintessentially LA spot. The bar at Firefly, lined with books and dimly lit lighting definitely evokes a neat scene for any bibliophiles out there.

My favorite night spot is La Descarga, a speakeasy in Hollwood with amazing run drinks, a burlesque show, and dancing.

I now reside in the city of San Gabriel, which is home to amazing Asian offerings. Nothing beats the dim sum and dumpling from Din Tai Fung at the Santa Anita Mall. And my favorite place to grab boba is Labobatory, for their funky and offbeat boba offerings ranging from Horchata to the instagramable mango/peablossom tea that looks like the Instagram logo.

I would also go to 3rd Street in Santa Monica for some people watching, and nip into Bar Chloe for a delicious mixologist drink.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my Shoutout to my maternal grandmother, Betty Kaplan, who was my inspiration for becoming an educator. She was a drama teacher for many years at Venice high school, and, despite being a diminutive 5 feet tall, was known to her students and colleagues as a force of nature.

I recall, at the age of eighteen, attending a tribute show that her students put on in her honor after her passing. It was standing room only in Venice high school’s auditorium. I vividly recall several of her former students approaching me and saying things along the lines of, “You don’t know me, but your grandmother made such an impact on my life, or “Your grandmother changed my life.”

Her story inspired me to become a teacher, and then a school leader, so that I too could make a profound impact on the lives of others, and pay it forward.

Website: www.edcouragementor.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-singer-bba04b12/

Twitter: @edcouragementor