The Last Mile
In the delivery industry, the last mile is defined as the final leg of a journey. The last mile is both costly and challenging because it often requires movement within a tight context. Just consider the journey of my recent delivery from Chewy, the online pet store. My package originated in Louisville, Kentucky — most likely at a large warehouse facility surrounded by open fields. It then moved on a trailer to Indianapolis, Indiana, again likely to the outskirts of Indianapolis where there are still vast stretches of farmland. Finally, it arrived in the small town of Lafayette, Indiana, where most homes still have car garages designed for the early Ford models and barely fit the small SUVs of today. A town not ideal for large delivery trucks. To solve the issue of tiny towns and congested urban spaces, delivery companies have developed a last mile system. In this system, the final delivery is managed by a local delivery company that utilizes a smaller truck and is more knowledgeable about the area’s traffic and road conditions.
The last mile challenge is not just in the delivery industry. Often career shifts are most challenging towards the end of the process — that portion of the journey wherein it may seem easier to stay in the current position rather than start anew, the moment when doubt of success becomes louder than the vision of professional growth. For educators, the last mile generally occurs right now — the period between winter and spring break. Like many across the nation, winter and New Year resolutions bring clarity for educators who imagine a transition out of the classroom or education altogether. The vision is as crisp as the cold winter weather. Yet as January and February zoom by and March takes form, the clarity of the vision starts to blur like melting snow on a window after a storm. Yet, just like the delivery company, educators can stay the course and successfully complete the last mile of the transition by working with a career coach or an accountability partner.
Hiring a career coach or identifying an accountability partner might seem unnecessary based on the hiring practices within education. Education is unique in that, for the most part, teachers experience one true transition into the field — moving from a credential program to their first teaching position. Educators who transition after this first move often do so through an informal process. A teacher meets a colleague in another district or school and is invited to apply for a position, or a teacher notices an open position at another school within their district and puts in a transfer request. Within each of these scenarios the system is pretty similar. However, in other fields, transitioning careers often means interacting with a company that has a completely different process and network. Those who desire support in making the transition often utilize career coaches, recruiters, or temporary employment agencies.
While utilizing a career coach is not a common practice for educators, it is growing — particularly for educators seeking to move into the tech sector. Coach Daphne Gomez started Teacher Career Coach in 2019 to support educators like herself who were looking to leave the classroom and leverage their teaching skills in the technology field. Because the decision to explore options outside of the classroom is a long and isolating journey, coaches like Daphne fill a role similar to that of third-party delivery companies. They know the terrain and how to successfully maneuver the transition.
The last mile is not easy. It is costly and challenging. The costs for transitioning out of the classroom are generally more mental than monetary as there is still a deep stigma against teachers who choose to center themselves. Coaches and accountability partners can help an educator quiet the noise by reminding the educator of their vision for professional growth, highlighting how new options do or do not align to that vision, and providing a consistent thinking partner.
The last mile is also rewarding. When my Chewy box finally arrived and my dog saw his new fetch ball, the joy was palpable. Together we play and experience joy as we each try to both entice with and keep the ball away from each other. A career transition can create similar feelings of joy. You deserve to have joy. Your vision is important. The right to center yourself applies to you. Don’t feel like you have to complete the journey alone. Find an accountability partner or a coach who will take the last mile with you.
The time to travel is now.
Dr. Lanette Jimerson is a writer, educator and scholar. She helps equity-minded leaders expand their impact and craft a career trajectory that centers their professional and financial needs. Book a conversation to learn how she supports leaders in transition. Check out 12 Tips to Transitioning Careers to get started on your journey
