I am a Vice Principal, Teacher Librarian and Itinerant teacher in a dual stream school of over 400 students. My goal is to know everyone by name (students, teachers and support staff) as I am hoping that by knowing each person by name I can begin to develop a relationship with them.
I had a student in my office this morning. I know him by name but have yet to develop a relationship with him. I had been teaching a lesson in his classroom and eventually, due to his distracting behaviour for me and the students around him, had to ask him to leave. The brief discussion after was frustrating. He was upset, as was I and he felt very strongly that he had done nothing wrong. Rather than have the conversation that I felt was going nowhere invited him to my office during the break to discuss it further.
I have to give him credit because I didn't really think he would show up and had just begun to consider what to do if he hadn't.
We sat at a table and I was honest and told him how frustrated I was during our classtime together. I then asked him if he didn't think my reaction was right, what did he think was reasonable? What would he have done if he had been the teacher and someone had shown the same type of behavior? At what point would he have done something? He didn't have an answer, not because he was being defiant but because I don't think anyone had ever asked him the question before.
What are reasonable expectations? Its definitely worth the discussion.
Tuesday 10 September 2013
Monday 2 September 2013
Developing Relationships
Students will be entering my building, some for the first time, on Tuesday. What is going to make them want to come back on Wednesday? I think there is only one thing... the connection they have made with an adult in the building.
But that connection starts with me and my partner in administration with the staff members in our building. How do I make/continue to make connections and build relationships with them?
To begin, I prefer everyone on staff taking some time to establish group norms and develop a belief statement that can be applied to the whole building, just so we are all on the same page of the same book. I like to take the time to discuss potential issues and explore all avenues for potential solutions and provide opportunities for everyone to contribute. I think it is important for staff to know that I will not/can not solve all issues and their suggestions and ideas are important, valuable and worthwhile to problem solving.
I want to have an "open door" policy and plan to keep my office door open unless it needs to be closed. My office is situated near an exit door and I will see/hear many staff arrive and leave and hope to connect with as many as possible on a daily basis to "check in" to see how their day went. I want to celebrate their success and assist with difficulties. I hope that through these easy daily interactions I can express that I value and appreciate all that they do for students. We often set out to catch students "doing good" but what about our teachers who have really set up the opportunities and teaching that has allowed that to occur. I hope to be able to observe and recognise teachers "doing good" as well.
I will communicate as often as necessary to let teachers know how things are progressing with different activities, long-range plans and changes whether school or division wide. I want teachers to recognize that I am not only working for them but with them as well.
I hope that through shared leadership, teachers will recognize that I am an integral member of a team and the building we work in does not follow a triangular hierarchy but a round circle of collaboration.
But that connection starts with me and my partner in administration with the staff members in our building. How do I make/continue to make connections and build relationships with them?
To begin, I prefer everyone on staff taking some time to establish group norms and develop a belief statement that can be applied to the whole building, just so we are all on the same page of the same book. I like to take the time to discuss potential issues and explore all avenues for potential solutions and provide opportunities for everyone to contribute. I think it is important for staff to know that I will not/can not solve all issues and their suggestions and ideas are important, valuable and worthwhile to problem solving.
I want to have an "open door" policy and plan to keep my office door open unless it needs to be closed. My office is situated near an exit door and I will see/hear many staff arrive and leave and hope to connect with as many as possible on a daily basis to "check in" to see how their day went. I want to celebrate their success and assist with difficulties. I hope that through these easy daily interactions I can express that I value and appreciate all that they do for students. We often set out to catch students "doing good" but what about our teachers who have really set up the opportunities and teaching that has allowed that to occur. I hope to be able to observe and recognise teachers "doing good" as well.
I will communicate as often as necessary to let teachers know how things are progressing with different activities, long-range plans and changes whether school or division wide. I want teachers to recognize that I am not only working for them but with them as well.
I hope that through shared leadership, teachers will recognize that I am an integral member of a team and the building we work in does not follow a triangular hierarchy but a round circle of collaboration.
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