Since I had to attend an Administrator Academy within this fiscal year to meet the requirements for remaining an administrator I won’t let it go by without note. Aren’t you lucky? It’s like you took the class with me today except you didn’t have to pay for it nor do you get the “lunch provided”. But make some bbq pulled pork sandwiches and some coleslaw and it’s like you’re there! (Put some sweet sauce and some spicy sauce on your sandwich like I did but don’t go for the cookie. The cookie will look good to you at first and then it will disappoint you. Honestly, I look out for you people.)
We had to compile a list of what our Dream School Culture would look like. This is what I came up with:
Leave the building better than when you left it.
Engage all families by contacting them and having an ongoing relationship with them.
Connect with everyone. Every day.
Greet every student everyday. BY NAME. (“Hello, Kristen.” and “Good morning, Anthony.”) ((Best Buy does this. So does Wal-Mart and our local Family Video. It makes me feel welcome! Shouldn’t we all feel welcome in school?))
Believe that the building exists for more than the sole purpose of disciplining students.
Do early interventions and preventative programs tailored to students.
Focus on teaching and learning and if the conversation doesn’t call for anything else as an educator, don’t bother bringing it to the table.
Believe that every child can learn.
Never except excuses; not from students, teachers, parents, or community members.
Require teachers to attend faculty meetings they miss the night before because they coincidentally ALWAYS have doctor appointments on those meeting days. (I hate when someone asks “What did I miss at the meeting?” and people reply “Oh, nothing.” Why would I bother making an agenda and going through it if it were NOTHING?)
Speak to the staff at a State of The Campus address each Fall. It is no secret we’re not doing the best we possibly could be doing so put it out there and challenge everyone to do their best for the kids’ sake.
Ignore AYP and No Child Left Behind. Success isn’t contingent upon the 62.5% you were required to meet this year. Did ANYTHING good happen this school year? Celebrate it. No matter how small.
Control the media when school stories must be told. Fax it to them at 4pm when they can’t “fact check” it. They’ll think they have the scoop and you’ll have told the story YOU want to tell.
Be professional in every manner: dress, speech, expectations.
Create Student Advisory Committees - those kids have some damn good ideas. Listen to them.
Teachers who threaten to quit should be allowed to do so on the spot. Empty threats mean nothing and usually they’re the negative teachers who are harming children so let them go.
Create a family-centered workplace that values our time and efforts for those we teach and those we are raising in our own homes.
June 10, 2008 @ 9:50 pm | Filed under Education, Uncategorized | Permalink |
GeekMommy Said,
June 10, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
Sounds like a dream school…
Having taught, I would also add “have administration and school board back up teachers who fail students who should be failed - but examine those who can’t help their students to succeed and see why.”
Daisy Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 4:49 am
Dream School Culture — you had me from that moment on. It doesn’t matter how old the building is: it’s the building culture that makes the school work.
It’s why I left my school last year for a different building: the culture. Sitting in a staff meeting where everyong is up in arms and talking loudly because the topics are important, because these discussions matter…well, I could post on it for days!
Have a good summer, and arrive in the fall rested, motivated, and passionate about learning.
Daisys last blog post..Recipe for a good collection
Stacy Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 5:13 am
You have a lot of great ideas. I so wish you were closer.
I especially LOVE what you said about the no child left behind. When tween was in 5th grade, they completely changed the curriculum and had the kids reading all stinking day save 2 hours. Just so they could get a good score on the tests. I don’t get it. All they are doing is inflating the numbers. It was a horrible almost 18 weeks of whining. And tween is the one child of mine who likes to read. Along with all of the reading time in school, they had to come home and read to an adult for at least a half hour each night. It was a mess.
-S.
Stacys last blog post..Lobsters
Avitable Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 5:46 am
You forgot: “If teachers are going to have sex with their students, the teachers must be attractive.”
Avitables last blog post..Bowleris Moronicus
Sugar Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Wow… wouldn’t that be awesome.
I’m going to my twenty year reunion in August. I had a fun time, but I don’t think I got much out of it as a student. I sort of breezed through like everyone else, checking off the list of to-dos handed out by teachers who were only there because that was the profession they had chosen way back when. I was pretty passionate about my dreams as were most of my friends. There were only a handful of teachers that sparked those passions in us. I can only picture two right now. Reading your list, I can see that a different environment would have produced amazing results. I homeschool my two youngest kids now because I want them to be passionate about learning and about the world around them. When I see a spark, we go in that direction for a little longer rather than cutting short the excitement because we have to get to our next lesson on time. It takes a little longer to complete a day, but hey… I suppose it will all be worth it in the end.
Sugars last blog post..Momentary Lapse of Reason
White Hot Magik Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 10:08 am
I think I like best that you mentioned greeting the kids. Don’t you just want to work harder when you feel like you belong? I do anyway. I would like to enroll my kiddos.
White Hot Magiks last blog post..Does this upset you?
Amy in StL Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 10:44 am
I love the greet every student everyday. When I went to a private secondary school our Principal, Sister Mary, knew everyone’s name by the end of the first month. Granted that was only 150 new names(500-600 total), but it amazed the heck out of me. She also offered her own sweater if the one you had didn’t meet dress code and you were cold, she taught girls how to hand hem skirts when theirs needed it and always called us ladies because - as she once told my mom - if I treat them as such, they’ll act that way. I think by the time we graduated, half of us worshipped her!
Susan Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 11:19 am
All awesome ideas. It’s a shame that the powers that be aren’t interested in that kind of school.
Susans last blog post..11
mp Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools
Apply for that job…take it… and get our city on the right track!
mps last blog post..Selective Partying
motherofbun Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
Oh that sounds like the perfect school environment. A friend of mine was salivating to teach at a certain school. She got the interview but realized the culture wasn’t what she thought it was. She realized the culture at the school she’s at now is far better. Although the bump in salary would have been good, she’s stayed on at her “old” school.
Thanks for letting me know about the cookies. I would have (virtually) eaten 6 of them before I realized what you just noted.
motherofbuns last blog post..A dog exerciser/entertainment center all in one!
Josh Said,
June 11, 2008 @ 9:17 pm
Wow…truly beautiful…I have to go to a week long workshop that’s similar…talking about working with students at a high needs school. Very cool…thanks for sharing what you learned. I’ll TRY to make the lunch…can’t guarantee…but I’ll try
Joshs last blog post..Summer
Betsy Said,
June 12, 2008 @ 8:49 am
Ah, Utopia. Shangri-la. I wish I worked there.
Honestly, I think that if everyone in the building were on the same page concerning students, how they should be treated, and what kind of environment it takes for learning to occur, I think most of our problems would be solved. If the students see the faculty working together for the best interests of the school and students, they will follow.
Ah, Utopia. Shangri-la.
Betsys last blog post..Light Fixtures and Stuff
Musings « No longer just “some girl” Said,
June 12, 2008 @ 10:10 am
[...] June 12, 2008 · Filed under Teaching Mocha’s last post has me thinking. A lot. This is rather dangerous because it is summer, and my brain officially has [...]
Tricia Said,
June 12, 2008 @ 10:29 am
We are lucky to be involved in a school community where family participation is the norm, kids are greeted each morning by their teacher with a hug, good morning or handshake. The campus is full of community energy…there is movement and music, acceptance of different learning styles and attention to respect and ‘lifelong guidelines”. Fabulous.
It has been my desire for some time to start a nonprofit agency that provides IEP, family support, advocacy, program for families. Especially, when I hear stories of entire schools where families don’t appear on back to school night, IEP meetings, etc. I’m surprised every time when my bubble is popped…
Dreams…
Tricias last blog post..What’s your fortune?
Elizabeth Said,
June 14, 2008 @ 1:48 am
That’s a pretty kick ass list. I’m not surprised!
Elizabeths last blog post..I’m broke
castocreations Said,
June 18, 2008 @ 9:53 am
Wow…I’m actually very impressed. That is a sensible and logical list. Schools do too much ’stuff’ that has nothing to do with learning now-a-days (and did so when I was in school 10+ years ago too).
Except that one about the media…I don’t really get it. What’s wrong with fact checking?
Oh…and I think administrators and principals should be able to fire bad teachers. Screw the union protection and longevity. Bad teachers don’t belong!
castocreationss last blog post..We Lost the Remote