Senior Ideen Saiedian poses with Dr. Lake at the
Class of 2012 Awards Ceremony. (Photo by Janet Rousch)
My teaching career began in 1982. (I'd just had my 22nd birthday the week before school started.) I've had seven different principals. Some have been fantastic, some have been awful, most had good intentions. One of my previous blogs noted that good PR begins in your building; it actually begins in your principal's office. This blog will offer a few lessons I've learned over the years.
1. Be pleasant. You don't have to be a suck up but you don't want to be cold or aloof. Being aloof is often seen as arrogance, rudeness or even incompetence. I've seen so many teachers that are hardworking, talented educators become misunderstood because they appear "upset" or "distracted."
2. Tell your principal when something good happens or when it is about to happen. If you can't have your principal's cell phone number you at least have their email. If something great happens at a contest or a work day...even over a weekend...let them know. If a student has a break through...if you "rock a lesson"...if you have a great activity coming up...if your kids improve their test scores...let them know.
3. Don't let your room or office become a place where folks feel comfortable stopping by to complain. Bottom line...what a waste of your time. You have a a lot of joyful children (or at least potentially joyful children) that want you to be the best teacher you can be. Spend your time working for them. Be collegial, be friendly, but be positive. You can make an enthusiastic difference in your school no matter what your age. If the older teachers see you as young and naive, they may tease or even make fun of you, but they'll admire you. Most of the curmudgeons told themselves that they would never be the grumpy teachers they turned into...don't let it happen to you.
4. Be a good teacher. Write your lesson plans. Post your learning targets where they can be seen by anybody that walks into the room. Vary lesson plans. Keep up with trends and try new techniques. Stay on top of your grading. Be accessible to kids and parents. Don't be the last to arrive in the morning or the first to leave in the afternoon. Dress professionally. Greet your students at the door before every class...you'll have at least one contact with all of your students that day and be visible in the hall.
5. Be a team player. Celebrate successes of other teachers, programs and students. If you know they're short on substitutes on a particular day or class period, volunteer to help during your plan. Attend after school events like concerts, plays or games. If you have kids, bring them. If you have a date, bring them.
Be the teacher that you aspire to be and your principal will be inspired by you.
Debbie Glenn
Blue Valley West High School
Overland Park, KS
It always helps to be reminded that there might be ways to get along with a boss you'd rather not have. I had a horrible principal last year, and my challenge was to not let it show all over my face that I think she's an idiot.
ReplyDeleteI'm very much looking forward to working with my new (hand-picked) principal. She's not an idiot. She's smart, supportive, interested in what I'm doing. . . But nothing gold can stay. I'll keep what we learned this week in my back pocket.
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your point about not turning into the grumpy curmudgeon that you vowed you would never become. I have observed the life-cycles of teachers, and made that same vow. I think it is easy to fall into negative habits, however. Thanks for making me renew my vow!
I like your advice about letting the principal know when something good happens. This is a point Kristen Gilger made too - take the lead in communicating with your principal. When I go back to my school, I'm going to try and be a better advocate for journalism by being more visible.
ReplyDelete