The Loneliness Nobody Warned You About — A Summary for Educators

Source: Teachers Deserve It by Rae Hughart (February 2, 2026) Original article: https://open.substack.com/pub/raehughart/p/the-loneliness-nobody-wa...

In her heartfelt piece “The Loneliness Nobody Warned You About,” Rae Hughart explores a reality many educators know quietly but rarely talk about: the profound loneliness that can come with the teaching profession. While most teacher preparation programs spotlight pedagogy, classroom management, and student learning, few prepare educators for the emotional and relational isolation that can emerge even when surrounded by colleagues and students. Hughart’s essay articulates this experience as less a personal flaw than a structural design problem rooted in how schools and the profession are organized.

Hughart begins by describing a familiar paradox: teachers are surrounded by people all day, yet at points in the year, they may feel completely alone in their work lives. Most teachers were warned about workload, grading, parent communication, and compensation—but not about how isolating the day-to-day experience can feel when there’s little genuine professional connection. This loneliness isn’t due to poor social skills or introversion; it stems from the design of the work itself. Schools operate on bell schedules, prioritize individual classroom responsibilities, and rarely create organic opportunities for collaboration. Unlike other professions, teachers don’t have built-in team projects, water-cooler conversations, or meaningful mentorship structures that facilitate deep connection. ([turn0search0])

The article includes a teacher’s testimony that illuminates this dynamic: a high school educator who has worked in the same building for six years admits she can’t describe what her neighbor two doors down actually teaches. Their interactions are limited to quick hallway greetings, with no space for authentic professional dialogue. Hughart characterizes this not as a personal shortcoming but as a design flaw in how schooling allocates time and structures relationships. 

Rather than offer trite advice like “just put yourself out there,” Hughart identifies practical strategies that educators in the Teachers Deserve It community have found genuinely effective in building meaningful professional relationships. First, she encourages teachers to start closer than they think. Educators don’t need to build national networks; they need one or two colleagues who get the work. These connections might exist right in their own building or district, perhaps someone they’ve never spoken with beyond superficial pleasantries. Even a simple coffee, voice memo, or message can spark a deeper connection. 

Second, Hughart suggests educators go where teachers already gather—in online spaces like Facebook groups, Substack communities, Instagram circles, or LinkedIn. You don’t have to be an active poster; sometimes lurking until you identify resonant voices can be the first step toward a real relationship. One teacher in her community shared how commenting on a post led to weekly conversations and a meaningful friendship, even though they’d never met in person.

Third, she advises that teachers lower the bar for what “connection” looks like. Professional networks don’t have to be big or formal. A group text with grad school colleagues, meaningful engagement with an Instagram account, or a ten-minute conversation at a district event can all qualify as a real connection if they lead to genuine mutual support. Hughart reminds educators that connection doesn’t need grand gestures — it just needs to be real. 

Finally, she highlights the underrated tactic of asking for referrals. Once you have a trusted connection, don’t hesitate to ask who else you should know. Strong networks often grow through introductions from people who already trust you. In this way, professional relationships develop organically rather than feeling forced or transactional.

Hughart’s message resonates deeply with educators navigating the emotional labor of teaching. Her reflections highlight an often unspoken aspect of the profession and offer practical, human-centered approaches that prioritize connection, support, and shared understanding — foundational elements that enrich both teacher well-being and professional growth. 

Original Article

The Loneliness Nobody Warned You About — A Summary for Educators

Source: Teachers Deserve It by Rae Hughart (February 2, 2026) Original article: https://open.substack.com/pub/raehughart/p/the-loneliness-nobody-wa...

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com