Re: Stretched too thin?

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Stretched too thin?

by MM

Aug 4, 2012

I'm currently the Director of a Montessori school, as well as a Primary Head Teacher. We're thinking of adding on another Primary classroom. I'm concerned that I might be stretching myself too thin. I already feel as if there's not enough time in the day. Anyone else juggling two positions like this? (as well as a family, evening class...) Any advice?

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MM Thanks for checking in...No, I decided to stay small for now. I'm happy with the decision because I already feel pretty overwhelmed with life, and my children are still very young. Once they've grown I'll reconsider. Right now I'm enjoying the "ma and pop" feeling of the school. The staff are all very close, and the parents are extremely satisfied....See MoreThanks for checking in...No, I decided to stay small for now. I'm happy with the decision because I already feel pretty overwhelmed with life, and my children are still very young. Once they've grown I'll reconsider. Right now I'm enjoying the "ma and pop" feeling of the school. The staff are all very close, and the parents are extremely satisfied. No need to mess with that! Best of luck with your decision...I know how very hard it is. On 12/31/13, NMR wrote: > Did you open another classroom? I too go back and forth with this though > as > the owner and not the teacher (though I played that role, I do handle > the > enrolment, tours etc. but after that I hand them over to an amazing > teacher > who we lucked out on! We do keep a small waiting list and do no > advertising > (though I have TONS of ideas and ways as I am degreed in > this area there > has just not been a strong need to!) so I feel if we > beef these two things > up we could go larger (we have only been open for > 1 1/2 years so we are > still learning A LOT...and our classroom limit is > 19 kids per our classroom > size). I almost would rather partner with a > passionate teacher who dreams > of starting her own classroom and just > setting up the school, the > materials, shelving and the paperwork and > train then to handle everything > independently again from the ground > up... > > Would love to hear what you did as I go back and forth daily if I > should be > happy with what I have developed or if I should keep going > with it!!! > > > On 8/12/12, MM wrote: > >> Thanks so much for your time on this. No, I'm not considering this for >> this school year...I know I wouldn't be able to do that personally. I >> like to take things on slowly. This would be for next school year. >> >> Yes, I guess you're right that it would be just too much to be the >> elementary head teacher, as well as the director of a larger school. >> Has anyone else tried that? >> >> At this point, I would probably choose to be in elementary, even though >> I love aspects of being the director. I did meet a director once who >> gave most of her responsibilities to the office administrator so she >> could return to Primary. I'd never seen her happier. However, she >> fully trusted the office admin b/c she had been working there for 15 >> years and knew the place inside and out. >> >> Staffing will be key. I have someone already in mind for the Office >> admin position, but hoping we can pay her what she needs. >> I truly am a perfectionist with this school. I spend all of my spare >> time dedicated to running it, almost like it's a hobby I enjoy. >> At this point, I just need to buckle down and make the decision. >> Thanks again, Montessori Anon, for your guidance and experience. >> Any other thoughts to share??? >> >> >> On 8/06/12, Montessori Anon wrote: >>>> My thoughts are if you definitely want to add elementary, then you >>> HAVE to add that second primary. It is very difficult to support a >>> elementary program with only one primary classroom. Even if you do >>> add elementary I would be very surprised if you didn't add the >>> second primary anyway. It makes more sense to get the "cart before >>> the horse"! Parents' expectations/sometime attitudes change when >>> their child reaches elementary age. All of a sudden even with the >>> best parent education classes in the world, some parents just get >>> concerned about things that were not an issue before (talking to >>> parents of the other types of schools, test scores, etc) >>> >>> I would suggest that you get a definite long term plan in place >>> with all of what that entails on a list ready to cross off. >>> Staff development would be your most crucial aspect as you want the >>> right people in the right places. Cross training would be ideal. >>> Some years enrollment just isn't as high as others and you want to >>> be able to have work for those people you want to keep. You want to >>> have those goals you are ready to work towards long term. If giving >>> up the directorship or being in the classroom is one of them, you >>> can be developing the role to be taken over by someone else. I would >>> think there was no way one could be director of three or more >>> classrooms and still teach. Something would have to give. >>> >>> I had a very good relationship with the other classroom's parents >>> and students, too. However, it was different in some ways. I didn't >>> feel like I "knew" them in the same way I did with my "own" >>> families. I enrolled them so I knew them, but that day to day >>> interaction wasn't always there. That part I missed most when >>> going "bigger". >>> >>> The most important thing here is to decide "What do I want?" Are you >>> willing to relinquish "control" of the school and start trusting >>> others to do their part and take over different areas of the school? >>> Do you want to teach elementary and give up the admininistration? Do >>> you want to give up the day to day teaching and be responsible for >>> overseeing the total quality of the school as it grows? I think >>> those of us who love the "little schools" are some of the most >>> perfectionists of perfectionists. The school reflects our labour and >>> we receive kudos and personal satisfaction from those responses in >>> public and from our school families. To grow in ways that you feel >>> the urge to despite the writing on the wall, something has to give. >>> You have to have faith that you will find the right people. One >>> thing you will have to remember is that there is no such thing as a >>> clone of yourself. That sure would make things easier wouldn't it? >>> >>> Are you considering doing this this year already? I did that once a >>> very long time ago but it was a first classroom in a new town. >>> Decided in July and opened in September. It can be done. You have a >>> lot to think about. Perhaps others will speak up and share their >>> thoughts, too. >>>

Jan 1, 2014

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Montessori Anon On 8/04/12, MM wrote: > I'm currently the Director of a Montessori school, as well > as a Primary Head Teacher. We're thinking of adding on > another Primary classroom. I'm concerned that I might be > stretching myself too thin. I already feel as if there's > not enough time in the day. Anyone else juggling two > positions like th...See MoreOn 8/04/12, MM wrote: > I'm currently the Director of a Montessori school, as well > as a Primary Head Teacher. We're thinking of adding on > another Primary classroom. I'm concerned that I might be > stretching myself too thin. I already feel as if there's > not enough time in the day. Anyone else juggling two > positions like this? (as well as a family, evening > class...) > Any advice?

I had the owner/director role as well as lead primary teacher. My one regret is opening the second classroom although it was needed.

We sort of got forced into it a year before we wanted to when a trained, experience bi lingual directress asked for a job when her school closed. We thought it would be perfect until she showed up in the fall announcing her pregnancy and she would go on maternity leave in January for the rest of the school year. As you know trained teachers don't grow on trees and it put us in a real bind as we just didn't find a suitable replacement. The one we had did not work out well.

We had nothing but bad luck with staffing that classroom. We paid for training, the husband gets transferred the following year. Another ends up with children with health problems and missed more then half the days of work. It just never got any better.

The other problem we had was that I had an excellent rep in the community and everyone requested me. We lost several prospective families due to not being able or willing to guarantee brand new families my classroom. The other classroom was prettier and a nicer set up, but that was not the issue. Then after a couple years of staffing messes, no one wanted that classroom without a proven teacher.

As you know, you can't be in two rooms at the same time and you can't always depend on others to follow through. I know not everyone has this kind of problem, but it does exist and overall it was a real pain. I do feel one gets spread too thin and something has to give - family or school. If you are used to giving outstanding service as well as maintaining supportive relationships with your families, I think you will find that out soon enough.

I would think the best circumstance would be someone you have worked with for several years who has a feeling of ownership with the school. That person would be much more likely to take on the responsibilities independently, and you know the two of you are on the same page when it comes to interpreting the philosphy (another issue with "new" teachers). You build up the reputation and then a new person could easily undermine your hard work.

I know this probably isn't the positive news you might have hoped to read. Maybe it is just supporting what you were thinking in your gut. Many schools make that move to adding another classroom and do fine. It depends a lot on your location, other schools in the area, etc.

I do know my happiest years of teaching was when I was the "whole package" running the show before adding staff for other rooms. If your plans are to grow to include elementary, then it would make sense to add the next classroom. Otherwise, I say you would be better off not taking on more then you feel is too much for one person to do. You will probably end giving up being the teacher or the director I would think down the road.

Good luck on your decision!

Aug 5, 2012

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MM Thank you for your response. It certainly is not what I wanted to hear, but I did expect it. I taught elementary many moons ago and would like to get back to that age group. But, I can't do that without adding a second Primary room, as you mentioned. I know I'm biting off more than I can chew. Our school is tiny, but we have a great reputation in t...See MoreThank you for your response. It certainly is not what I wanted to hear, but I did expect it. I taught elementary many moons ago and would like to get back to that age group. But, I can't do that without adding a second Primary room, as you mentioned. I know I'm biting off more than I can chew. Our school is tiny, but we have a great reputation in the community and the parents are thrilled with it. I have a great relationship with each and every one of them, and am also concerned that that will suffer. So, in short, I can assume expanding will compromise the quality of the school. But even after this realization, why do I still want to proceed???

On 8/05/12, Montessori Anon wrote: > I had the owner/director role as well as lead primary teacher. > My one regret is opening the second classroom although it was > needed. > > We sort of got forced into it a year before we wanted to when > a trained, experience bi lingual directress asked for a job > when her school closed. We thought it would be perfect until > she showed up in the fall announcing her pregnancy and she > would go on maternity leave in January for the rest of the > school year. As you know trained teachers don't grow on trees > and it put us in a real bind as we just didn't find a suitable > replacement. The one we had did not work out well. > > We had nothing but bad luck with staffing that classroom. We > paid for training, the husband gets transferred the following > year. Another ends up with children with health problems and > missed more then half the days of work. It just never got any > better. > > The other problem we had was that I had an excellent rep in > the community and everyone requested me. We lost several > prospective families due to not being able or willing to > guarantee brand new families my classroom. The other classroom > was prettier and a nicer set up, but that was not the issue. > Then after a couple years of staffing messes, no one wanted > that classroom without a proven teacher. > > As you know, you can't be in two rooms at the same time and > you can't always depend on others to follow through. I know > not everyone has this kind of problem, but it does exist and > overall it was a real pain. I do feel one gets spread too thin > and something has to give - family or school. If you are used > to giving outstanding service as well as maintaining > supportive relationships with your families, I think you will > find that out soon enough. > > I would think the best circumstance would be someone you have > worked with for several years who has a feeling of ownership > with the school. That person would be much more likely to take > on the responsibilities independently, and you know the two of > you are on the same page when it comes to interpreting the > philosphy (another issue with "new" teachers). You build up > the reputation and then a new person could easily undermine > your hard work. > > I know this probably isn't the positive news you might have > hoped to read. Maybe it is just supporting what you were > thinking in your gut. Many schools make that move to adding > another classroom and do fine. It depends a lot on your > location, other schools in the area, etc. > > I do know my happiest years of teaching was when I was > the "whole package" running the show before adding staff for > other rooms. If your plans are to grow to include elementary, > then it would make sense to add the next classroom. Otherwise, > I say you would be better off not taking on more then you feel > is too much for one person to do. You will probably end giving > up being the teacher or the director I would think down the > road. > > Good luck on your decision!

Aug 5, 2012

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Montessori Anon On 8/05/12, MM wrote: > Thank you for your response. It certainly is not what I wanted > to hear, but I did expect it. I taught elementary many moons ago > and would like to get back to that age group. But, I can't do > that without adding a second Primary room, as you mentioned. I > know I'm biting off more than I can chew. Our scho...See MoreOn 8/05/12, MM wrote: > Thank you for your response. It certainly is not what I wanted > to hear, but I did expect it. I taught elementary many moons ago > and would like to get back to that age group. But, I can't do > that without adding a second Primary room, as you mentioned. I > know I'm biting off more than I can chew. Our school is tiny, but > we have a great reputation in the community and the parents are > thrilled with it. I have a great relationship with each and > every one of them, and am also concerned that that will suffer. > So, in short, I can assume expanding will compromise the quality > of the school. But even after this realization, why do I still > want to proceed??? > > My thoughts are if you definitely want to add elementary, then you HAVE to add that second primary. It is very difficult to support a elementary program with only one primary classroom. Even if you do add elementary I would be very surprised if you didn't add the second primary anyway. It makes more sense to get the "cart before the horse"! Parents' expectations/sometime attitudes change when their child reaches elementary age. All of a sudden even with the best parent education classes in the world, some parents just get concerned about things that were not an issue before (talking to parents of the other types of schools, test scores, etc)

I would suggest that you get a definite long term plan in place with all of what that entails on a list ready to cross off. Staff development would be your most crucial aspect as you want the right people in the right places. Cross training would be ideal. Some years enrollment just isn't as high as others and you want to be able to have work for those people you want to keep. You want to have those goals you are ready to work towards long term. If giving up the directorship or being in the classroom is one of them, you can be developing the role to be taken over by someone else. I would think there was no way one could be director of three or more classrooms and still teach. Something would have to give.

I had a very good relationship with the other classroom's parents and students, too. However, it was different in some ways. I didn't feel like I "knew" them in the same way I did with my "own" families. I enrolled them so I knew them, but that day to day interaction wasn't always there. That part I missed most when going "bigger".

The most important thing here is to decide "What do I want?" Are you willing to relinquish "control" of the school and start trusting others to do their part and take over different areas of the school? Do you want to teach elementary and give up the admininistration? Do you want to give up the day to day teaching and be responsible for overseeing the total quality of the school as it grows? I think those of us who love the "little schools" are some of the most perfectionists of perfectionists. The school reflects our labour and we receive kudos and personal satisfaction from those responses in public and from our school families. To grow in ways that you feel the urge to despite the writing on the wall, something has to give. You have to have faith that you will find the right people. One thing you will have to remember is that there is no such thing as a clone of yourself. That sure would make things easier wouldn't it?

Are you considering doing this this year already? I did that once a very long time ago but it was a first classroom in a new town. Decided in July and opened in September. It can be done. You have a lot to think about. Perhaps others will speak up and share their thoughts, too.

Aug 6, 2012

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MM Thanks so much for your time on this. No, I'm not considering this for this school year...I know I wouldn't be able to do that personally. I like to take things on slowly. This would be for next school year.

Yes, I guess you're right that it would be just too much to be the elementary head teacher, as well as the director of a larger schoo...See MoreThanks so much for your time on this. No, I'm not considering this for this school year...I know I wouldn't be able to do that personally. I like to take things on slowly. This would be for next school year.

Yes, I guess you're right that it would be just too much to be the elementary head teacher, as well as the director of a larger school. Has anyone else tried that?

At this point, I would probably choose to be in elementary, even though I love aspects of being the director. I did meet a director once who gave most of her responsibilities to the office administrator so she could return to Primary. I'd never seen her happier. However, she fully trusted the office admin b/c she had been working there for 15 years and knew the place inside and out.

Staffing will be key. I have someone already in mind for the Office admin position, but hoping we can pay her what she needs. I truly am a perfectionist with this school. I spend all of my spare time dedicated to running it, almost like it's a hobby I enjoy. At this point, I just need to buckle down and make the decision. Thanks again, Montessori Anon, for your guidance and experience. Any other thoughts to share???

On 8/06/12, Montessori Anon wrote: > > My thoughts are if you definitely want to add elementary, then you > HAVE to add that second primary. It is very difficult to support a > elementary program with only one primary classroom. Even if you do > add elementary I would be very surprised if you didn't add the > second primary anyway. It makes more sense to get the "cart before > the horse"! Parents' expectations/sometime attitudes change when > their child reaches elementary age. All of a sudden even with the > best parent education classes in the world, some parents just get > concerned about things that were not an issue before (talking to > parents of the other types of schools, test scores, etc) > > I would suggest that you get a definite long term plan in place > with all of what that entails on a list ready to cross off. > Staff development would be your most crucial aspect as you want the > right people in the right places. Cross training would be ideal. > Some years enrollment just isn't as high as others and you want to > be able to have work for those people you want to keep. You want to > have those goals you are ready to work towards long term. If giving > up the directorship or being in the classroom is one of them, you > can be developing the role to be taken over by someone else. I would > think there was no way one could be director of three or more > classrooms and still teach. Something would have to give. > > I had a very good relationship with the other classroom's parents > and students, too. However, it was different in some ways. I didn't > feel like I "knew" them in the same way I did with my "own" > families. I enrolled them so I knew them, but that day to day > interaction wasn't always there. That part I missed most when > going "bigger". > > The most important thing here is to decide "What do I want?" Are you > willing to relinquish "control" of the school and start trusting > others to do their part and take over different areas of the school? > Do you want to teach elementary and give up the admininistration? Do > you want to give up the day to day teaching and be responsible for > overseeing the total quality of the school as it grows? I think > those of us who love the "little schools" are some of the most > perfectionists of perfectionists. The school reflects our labour and > we receive kudos and personal satisfaction from those responses in > public and from our school families. To grow in ways that you feel > the urge to despite the writing on the wall, something has to give. > You have to have faith that you will find the right people. One > thing you will have to remember is that there is no such thing as a > clone of yourself. That sure would make things easier wouldn't it? > > Are you considering doing this this year already? I did that once a > very long time ago but it was a first classroom in a new town. > Decided in July and opened in September. It can be done. You have a > lot to think about. Perhaps others will speak up and share their > thoughts, too. >

Aug 12, 2012

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