It’s that time of year for recognition and awards: Super Bowl,
Grammys, and Oscars. Best football team, best artist, best actor, best film? What makes the best of the best? Principals have the daunting job of hiring the “best” teachers, making sure “best” practices are being implemented, using all forms of communication to provide the “best” information and data, and making sure they project the “best” image of their school to the community. Articles about strong leadership characteristics abound the internet. However, The Eight Characteristics of Effective School Leaders sums it up for me. These are great characteristics to strive for but they can lose their meaning without specific examples. I recently attended a conference where an elementary school principal literally "rolled out the red carpet" for parents. The principal and his staff turned their school into an "award-winning" night where they dressed up and hosted an Oscar-like event. They invited the local news and radio station to document the event. They spent the evening showering parents with information about the school, tips for helping students at home, and lots of exciting door prizes and giveaways. The night was so successful, they now make it an annual event. So, I'm searching for ideas that I can store up for the future. Please share something special (no matter how big or how small) that you have experienced from leadership at your school or something that was an "Oscar-winning" performance from your principal.
At McClarin, we have a holiday celebration the likes of which I have never seen before. Our principal wants the staff to know that they are appreciated. We do it on the cheap as well, but that is probably because she already has a lot of the things we use due to her own foundation that has big gala affairs. For lunch on the last day of school before winter break, we find a place to host us and she decorates to the hilt! The tables and chairs have covers, there is some kind of arrangement on each table, and the food is catered. She works tirelessly to find sponsors to donate the space or food or center pieces. Our theme for the past three years has been Denim and Diamonds, so everyone wears jeans with some blinged out top. We then have an awards ceremony to recognize some of the teachers for their hard work and it is done like the Oscars. We announce the nominees for each category and then the winner. It is a great time to celebrate the work of the first semester. In May, we have a cookout potluck where everyone brings something to share and we have grilled chicken, burgers, sausages, veggies, the works. It helps teachers feel appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic tradition! I love this idea! It is an opportunity for the staff to have both a fancy, decked-out experience and an opportunity for recognition. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteOne year on a professional learning day/teacher work day, our principal had this long list of meetings for the day. It looked as if we were going to having every moment with the exception of lunch in meetings. He sat there a listened to all of the groans and sighs and then suddenly, he told us to look out of the window; there were several charter busses pulling up. He had planned for us to go off campus to a conference center in Peachtree Center where we would spend our day with a guest speaker and games. It was so nice to be away from the building.
ReplyDeleteOn another day for teacher appreciation, we received massages and catered lunch. The room for the massages were set up so relaxing not to mention the massages were excellent. He would have people to come relieve use from our classes so that we could enjoy our massages. The moral and the climate of the school really changed and we felt appreciated.
Charter buses! That's amazing! What a great surprise. Your comment and Tim's really got my wheels turning about grand gestures to show staff how appreciated they are!
DeleteCharter buses! That's amazing! What a great surprise. Your comment and Tim's really got my wheels turning about grand gestures to show staff how appreciated they are!
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