Students want to know you’re working hard, too.
This takes many forms – visibility in your office, availability for questions, promptness of grading and replies, engagement in class. And it’s part of the reason that ensemble educators are so often beloved: their engagement with the ensemble in rehearsal, their preparation for rehearsal, and their commitment to the ensemble are palpable and appreciated.
The challenges are balance and boundaries. When you’re consistently working hard alongside students, you need to give them permission to take their rest even as you give yourself that permission. That’s why I’ve set an auto-reply to my school email, won’t post in our discussion groups until the New Year, and will disengage from from our social media until the New Year too. Because just as students need to see their teachers working hard with them, they need to know that it’s okay to rest.