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!!
