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Monday, January 29, 2001
School Administrators Collaborative
Helping The Less Than Effective Teacher
Addie /MO - Welcome
to the Administrator's Collaborative Meeting
Addie /MO - tonights
topic is supposed to be Discussion starter: Helping the less than effective teacher move toward improvement, but if that topic doesnt interest you,
then we can discuss something else. it is informal
Cheryl/NH - I like
the discussion starter. Also, how to help a less than effective teacher
improve as well as one that knows she is not returning after June...motivation
is slipping.
Cheryl/NH - I think
the first step for the less than effective teacher is to find out his/her
goals.
Addie /MO - so what
can we do to help the teacher that needs to improve. one thing that is
done with new teachers in MO is that they are assigned a mentor that is
supposed to help them out
Addie /MO - so to
help them discover their own personal goals? or set some goals?
Cheryl/NH - Such
as, are they happy in the field, are they burned out?
Cheryl/NH - Good
idea, Addie. Some ineffective teachers are that way because their mentor
was not available or they did not have one.
Addie /MO - that
is true, cheryl....i have read that an important job as an administrator
is to help teachers clarify this and guide those that really dont want
to be there to another area
Cheryl/NH - Yes Addie,
I think setting up a Personal Development plan with them based on thier
goals.
quiverful - that's
a good question cheryl....are they burned out and don't care.....or do
they just not know where to go next?
Addie /MO - the mentor
being available is kind of a problem. mentors are not paid a stipend. they
are asked to assume this duty and hopefully they will do a good job out
of professionalism
Cheryl/NH - And then,
adminstrators need to follow up prior to review time. In our school, we
meet with admin for a PDP and then don't discuss it again until review
time. Some teachers are not sure how to get the training, knowledge they
need to meet their goals.
Addie /MO - at our
school we have grade level planning and the mentors are always at the same
grade level so they can meet then
Addie /MO - cheryl,
that is true. if we dont give specific feedback as the teacher works towards
the goals, he or she wont know how he/she is doing. if there is a problem
teachers need to have time to work on it
Cheryl/NH - quiverful,
exactly! We have lost 6 teachers because of that exact problem.
Cheryl/NH - We also
have a problem now with teachers who KNOW they are not returning in the
fall and are really slacking off, but we don't want the turnover either.
How do I help to refocus them for the next 5 months?
Addie /MO - cheryl,
that sounds like a difficult problem. i would think that helping them to
remember that they have those students in their room counting on them might
help.
Addie /MO - stepping
into the rooms and paying attention to what the students are doing, so
that the teacher knows that you are interested in seeing quality for the
next five months
Cheryl/NH - I try
to do that when I can. One is having absentee problems (once a week). She
has been very gruff with parents, not greeting children, etc. I want to
chat with her and point out ask her what I can expect from her over the
next few months and what I need from her.
Cheryl/NH - We are
in PREK, one of these person's degree is in elem and special ed. So prek
is not thier choice "career" but a job. And now with other personal probs,
it is affecting the classroom.
Addie /MO - maybe
a visit would help, or what if you asked her how certain kids in her room
were doing? and got her thinking about how she could help them?
Addie /MO - cheryl,
you would think that under those circumstances, your positive reference
would be important for getting from their "stepping stone" position into
what they want to do
Cheryl/NH - Addie,
I coteach with her. I am the dept head this parttime program and this has
been "placed" as my respons. Our admin person usually avoids any confrontation.
Addie /MO - cheryl,
how would modeling what you want her to do work?
Addie /MO - early
childhood is high burnout for sure. especially if the salaries arent commensurate
with other teaching positions. i dont know if that is the case here or
not
Cheryl/NH - Addie,
I will continue with appropriate modeling as well as "redirecting" her
to an area that needs help, etc.
Cheryl/NH - Yes,
she has a Bachelors in ed/special ed and is paid under $9/hour
Addie /MO - another
idea, which i am sure that you are a positive person, but really point
out the neat things that happen to her and engage her in conversations
about the exciting things the kids do and the funny things
Cheryl/NH - ashley,
I teach prek.
Addie /MO - she probably
resents that, but if that is the job that you have, you should do the best
you can! plus, i still think that she will need a good reference.
Addie /MO - will
your director give her a good reference anyway?
Cheryl/NH - No, probably
not. And she is going back to school in fall...she is late 20's
Addie /MO - is she
getting a different degree? or advancing in ed?
Cheryl/NH - Do you
feel that mentoring programs help? I am in a private school and will probably
be the dept head for the preschool wing next year and would like to start
something like that. We will have 6 new teachers, then.
Addie /MO - cheryl,
she sounds immature. we had a teacher like that several years ago.
Cheryl/NH - She is
going for Masters in Special ed I believe.
Addie /MO - she knew
she was getting married as soon as school was out and moving away. she
only had wedding on the brain. she was young and immature.
Addie /MO - special
ed is another high burnout field where you have to be a giver. i dont see
how that will work for her
Cheryl/NH - Addie,
I think you are right. I guess I just want the kids to have consistency
for the last half of the year and am concerned about her backed off attitude.
She was wonderful before break, but priorities are changed.
Cheryl/NH - ashley,
anything I can help with? I teach prek, have an associates in early childhood
and am a junior in elem/sped.
Addie /MO - that
is a hard call to make. is the consistency worth having a less than adequate
person there? in public schools with contracts, there is not a choice usually
because the person has a contract for the year even if things are not going
well
Cheryl/NH - We also
have a school year contract, but I agree with you. Effectiveness is more
important than consistancy at this point...but early childhood employees
are hard to come by right now.
Addie /MO - so does
this teacher have to stay til the end of the year?
Cheryl/NH - No, she
doesn't have to.
Cheryl/NH - By the
way, thanks, this is like a teacher counseling session for me...send me
the bill!
Addie /MO - well,
it always helps to talk things out, i think
Addie /MO - i am
learning that alot this year in the office. teachers come in and they just
talk through things that are happening...then eventually they come up with
solutions and then they feel better. i just listen!
deecoco - I just
think experience and personal growth will make a proffesional...I just
co- taught with a young 24 yr. old with no kids and I have 5 kids of my
own and it just seemed that lifes experience makes you more in tune with
the children
Addie /MO - David,
are you an admin? if so, where and what grades
David - I'm just
going into it - Get Cert. in May
Addie /MO - deecoco,
i think that you are right. you have that personal experience to draw from
and more intuition, so to speak
deecoco - and AGE
Addie /MO - cert
as a teacher or admin?
David - admin.
Addie /MO - that
experience will definitely help when you deal with parents too. you can
say, "been there, done that" and i think that means alot to people
Addie /MO - what
age do you teach, david?
David - Our administration
is a little weak. I don't think they help the less effective teacher
David - I teach Industrial
Tech.
Addie /MO - age matters
too. you just have had more "life" and i think sometimes that helps us
know how to deal with adversity and also how to have a little "tougher"
skin. you have met all kinds of people and know how to deal with them
David - 6-8th
Addie /MO - i think
that sometimes it is hard to help someone, especially if you dont like
confrontation
David - Addie- what
do you do???
Addie /MO - one of
my "jobs" this year as AP has been to help one of our new K teachers, who
was weak on class management at first. i had to work with her to get her
to trust me and know that my motivation was purely to help her grow and
nothing else
Addie /MO - i am
an assist. principal at seneca elementary in MO. 770 kids k-5
deecoco - well I
thank you all for the chat...I will be back again next time....have HOMEWORK!!!!!
Addie /MO - i just
completed 11 years as a k teacher
Cheryl/NH - David,
same problem here. Admin tends to let problems go and hopes that teachers
will work it out themselves, but they actually feel desserted.
David - You carry
several topics well, at one time
Addie /MO - my situation
is a little unique, as i have the position, but not the certification.
i am just starting to get certified. the district offered me the job
David - Our Admin.
- just want to get to retirement
Addie /MO - i have
always been a "head on" kind of person, and i am trying to handle admin
things that way. if i know where the prob is, i will try to go tackle it.
but it isnt always pleasant
Cheryl/NH - Wow,
so you are all left on your own as well.
Addie /MO - so, david,
what do you think the admin should do to help struggling teachers
Addie /MO - i dont
think that teachers want to be left that alone. i guess there is a line
between micromanaging, which no one likes and simply leaving someone high
and dry
David - Good question,
maybe a little more clinical supervision
Addie /MO - a suggestion
that our principal made to one of our teachers was to observe another teacher
at the grade level for some ideas, but she got a little offended
Addie /MO - was the
person unwilling to change, or just didnt have the ability?
mahjongg74 - observing
is a good idea
David - MO you need
proper training or things go bad
Cheryl/NH - Addie,
exactly. I think that teachers need to know that admin is there for support
and not just problems. Observations in their room, visiting, etc does help.
mahjongg74 - does
not have the ability
Addie /MO - we gave
our brand new teachers some release time earlier in the year to observe
some other teachers
mahjongg74 - did
not think she had a problem
David - observing
is great - teaming is good way to find out what others are doing
Addie /MO - the admin
being visible in the building and in and out of classes helps with what
you are saying, cheryl. and being there to listen
David - visiting
other schools is good if you can get away
mahjongg74 - that
is a good idea
Addie /MO - 74, that
is a big problem. knowing there is a problem and wanting to change is the
first step to improving
Cheryl/NH - I like
the teaming idea. We had connecting rooms last year and we set up specific
activities to happen in each room and the children rotated. It was helpful
to the staff.
Addie /MO - david,
that is a good idea. i have never been to another school that i havent
gotten great ideas and come back energized
David - I've done
team teaching - learned a lot
mahjongg74 - staff
development meetings that deal with topics that are a problem for the teacher
concerned would be a good way to help the teacher develop theories and
understand philosophies
Addie /MO - that
is good, cheryl since the teachers are working together and the kids have
the benefit of all of the teachers. they will be exposed to good teaching
at some point, if there are stronger teachers in the mix
David - Elementary
teachers that team are great to watch
Addie /MO - 74 that
might be a less threatening way to deal with the situation. that way the
teacher doesnt feel singled out, but maybe will get some good ideas and
get to thinking about the situation
David - Lots of training
- if your going to do something different
mahjongg74 - everyone
can use a good idea here and there, always open to new thoughts and opinions
David - Addie - you
sound like you do a good job
Addie /MO - and we
need to remember that change takes time and that it is a process rather
than an event
Addie /MO - thanks,
david. i hope so. i am really trying hard anyway!
mahjongg74 - addie
that is so true
Addie /MO - Well,
I would like to thank everyone for attending tonight! You are welcome to
stay and chat if you wish!
Cheryl/NH - Addie,
I like that phrase...it's terrific! In preschool, we always discuss "the
process not the product" only we refer to art! I love this one!
David - bye
Cheryl/NH - Goodnight
Addie! Your teachers are lucky to have you!!
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