As many parents have said to their children, “You will be judged by your friends.” Even if a child is a straight-A student who never gets into trouble, if she hangs out with criminals and drug dealers, she will be seen as a trouble-maker oo. This principle also holds true for you in your professional career as a teacher. The only difference is that drug dealers would be replaced with disgruntled employees.

Don't misunderstand the point. You are not obligated to avoid certain teachers, and you should be polite to everyone. But take care choosing the teachers with whom you have strong friendships, because your friendships will be the measure many will use to judge you and your commitment to teaching. Following are some types of teachers that you might encounter as you teach.

The “Ready to Retire” Teacher

Teachers who are getting close to retirement will probably be the best teachers you will work with. They have years of experience and insight that they can share with you. They make the best mentors and should be sought out for advice. However, there are a couple of things you might want to consider when dealing with these teachers.

While excellent veteran teachers are common, you will probably also come into contact with those teachers who have the “ready to retire” mindset. These teachers are counting down the days until they reach twenty or thirty years of work and can retire from teaching altogether. These teachers are suffering from the educator's version of “senioritis”: They are only paying attention partially to their work because they are ready for the end of the year.

Also, you might find “ready to retire” teachers who are somewhat disgruntled. Over the years, they have probably had to face many changes. If a new change occurs during their last years, they may see it as more of a nuisance than an opportunity. This negative attitude is catching and can deflate you very quickly.

The “Cavalier” Teacher

Some teachers just seem to have a cavalier attitude about their careers. Typically, they have been around for a while and choose to ignore or alter instructions given to them because they have taken the idea of “tenure” too far. They know that they cannot be fired if they do not step too far out of bounds. For example, this type of teacher might realize that since he gets his check by direct deposit, he can ignore any directives that say “You will not be paid on time if you do not…”

Often, teachers with this type of attitude are negative about any new or different ideas for education. They will put as little time as possible into changing. If you hang around those with a negative attitude, this will rub off on you. To maintain your positive outlook on teaching and students, it might be best to steer clear of these negative people.

The “Excited” Teacher

The excited teacher is a great person to spend time with. She will often be positive about her job and will be involved in her school. However, you should be careful that these individuals do not get you too deeply involved in any projects when you are new to the school. They have often been teaching long enough to feel confident in the classroom and to have all of their lessons in place. You, on the other hand, will require two to three years to become truly confident in your abilities and to have a good basis in your position. It's fine to become friends, but do not allow yourself to be pushed into more than you can handle.

The “Committed Realist” Teacher

This individual is very committed to his job, yet he is very realistic about the state of education and the school. While these individuals are sometimes seen as negative by administration, they often have the most stable view of what is really going on around you. Therefore, it is very good for you to get to know someone like this to help ground you in reality. However, realize that this could have some negative connotations for you. Use your common sense to judge if teachers like this are truly committed to providing an excellent education for their students.

The “Incompetent” Teacher

This last type of teacher is, hopefully, the one you will not encounter at all. This is the teacher who appears so incompetent that other educators doubt whether she can really teach. You will hear horror stories from other teachers and students about her classroom environment.

It would be advisable not to take advice from the incompetent teacher. However, it is also a very good idea not to become involved in any discussions with students concerning her teaching skills. If you really feel that something terrible is happening in her classroom, discuss this with your team leader or your immediate supervisor.