NAHANT — Johnson Elementary School (JES) is working to prepare its students for the next step in their academic careers by getting them familiar with multiple teachers for different subjects, an initiative spearheaded by sixth grade teacher Kayla Harrington.
The goal is to prepare the fifth and sixth grade class by having them go between two teachers for various subjects — Harrington and fifth grade teacher Tessa Dearing — rather than having just one teacher throughout the whole stretch of the school day, according to Superintendent of Schools Rob Liebow.
“I think it’s fantastic that our teachers pushed for this, and what I think is special about Nahant is that everybody in the school does what’s best for the kids. They’re all advocates for the kids,” Liebow said.
Harrington elaborated on how the initiative first came to life.
“I reached out to teachers at Swampscott Middle School (SMS) and began working with the 6A SeaStar Team, especially science teacher Lara Dandreo. I observed classes, joined lessons, and collaborated outside of contracted hours to align expectations for our students’ academic success,” Harrington said.
“I soon learned that co-teaching between teachers at JES had once been a tradition, but it had faded after JES temporarily lost its sixth grade and experienced staff turnover. But once I understood its value, I was determined to bring it back,” she said.
That same year, Harrington and Dandreo launched “Big Blue for a Day,” a half-day immersion experience at SMS. Students traveled on the Blue Lobster Van, paired with SMS students who were also their pen pals, and shadowed them through classes.
They toured the school with their pen pals and then-Assistant Principal Emily Zotto (now principal of Swampscott High School) in order to experience “middle school life” firsthand.
The goal, as Harrington described it, was simple: Build relationships with students and staff, ease the transition, and show students that even though Nahant and Swampscott are separate districts, the two can work together both academically and professionally for the students’ success.
“The benefits of co-teaching are remarkable,” Harrington said. “It allows students to adapt to different teaching styles, develop relationships with multiple educators and strengthen their organizational skills — essential tools for middle school success.”
She added that new JES Principal Heather Castonguay had been “incredibly supportive since day one.”
Harrington went in-depth about the work done as she and Dearing began research into the matter.
“Tessa (Dearing) and I wanted to be intentional, so we researched best practices, reached out to families and staff, and built a detailed slideshow presentation for the School Committee on May 13, 2025,” she said. “Our presentation included survey results from families of incoming fifth and sixth graders, research on the benefits of co-teaching, and a proposed schedule modeled after what Swampscott Middle School uses.”
Harrington said that while Middle school transitions can be challenging, “my hope is that students will look back on their years at Johnson Elementary with pride.
“Nahant may be small, but it deserves a school system that gives students the strongest possible start. I want them to know that even though we are a small school on a tombolo, we will always be their home,” she added.
“Through initiatives like co-teaching and Big Blue for a Day, we’re not just preparing students academically — we’re helping them build confidence, form lasting relationships, and be ready for whatever comes next,” said Harrington.
Dearing could not be reached for comment.
