encourage 21st century learning, have more collaborative time for teachers on inservice days (instead of expensive speakers), and have a hard line stance with teachers and students when it comes to attendance, dress code, and work expectations.
Allow every teacher to choose a topic of their choice to teach as an elective. Allowing teachers the space and autonomy to innovate will keep them fresh and bringing new ideas to the table for the areas that are state or district mandated.
encourage the collaborative sharing of the knowledge and experience on staff before heading to external sources. It is amazing how 21st century social networking theory and experience and transfer into the classrooms (eg through blogs etc).
spend PD training staff how to teach collaboratively using PBL methods and encourage student-centered learning rather than teacher-focused lectures or textbook worksheets.
Make a point to be in every classroom as often as possible. Of course administrators have responsibilities outside the classroom, but every thing they do is supposed to be directly tied to the success of the students. How can they know truly what is happening--the wonderful and the not so, unless they are there to witness it? There is no need to wait to be invited.
encourage teacher collaboration, support teachers in every way possible, encourage projects and team work, visit classrooms and talk to students, work WITH the faculty, parents and students to make the school the best it could be.
...provide high support to my teachers: provide ample professional development opportunities, advocate for them (in terms of time off, promotions, class size), allow them to take ownership of curriculum development, and encourage them to innovate in the classroom.
...hold teachers to high expectations: ensure that all teachers are following accepted best practices, properly assessing and documenting student performance, dressing professionally & arriving on time, and holding students accountable to same expectations.
make teachers responsible for their learning; give the students more say in their own learning and insist that teachers have digital hubs for their classrooms.
Hire administrators with lots of experience in the classroom. We have admin who have less than 5 years In the classroom and can't effectively evaluate a teacher.
I love this question, and it is particularly timely for me as I have been a teacher for 20 years, but will begin as a principal next year. My list: model use of social networking tools and other forms of technology and give teachers time to play with the tools and each other in order to learn how to use them; be out in the classrooms -see the wonderful teaching going on and validate teachers in that, as well as the not-so-wonderful and support teachers in improving; know the children - understand how they learn, what they love, help them learn to problem solve situations in and out of the classroom, celebrate with them; be the lead learner in the school - pass on information and articles about current issues in education as well as best practices; say "yes" as much as possible.
encourage 21st century learning, have more collaborative time for teachers on inservice days (instead of expensive speakers), and have a hard line stance with teachers and students when it comes to attendance, dress code, and work expectations.
ReplyDeleteAllow every teacher to choose a topic of their choice to teach as an elective. Allowing teachers the space and autonomy to innovate will keep them fresh and bringing new ideas to the table for the areas that are state or district mandated.
ReplyDeleteTeach alongside my teachers
ReplyDeletebuild a schedule where teachers could collaborate weekly on cross-curricular projects and informal PD.
ReplyDeleteHaving the time to witness great teaching and wonderful learning, at any school.
ReplyDeleteencourage the collaborative sharing of the knowledge and experience on staff before heading to external sources. It is amazing how 21st century social networking theory and experience and transfer into the classrooms (eg through blogs etc).
ReplyDeletespend PD training staff how to teach collaboratively using PBL methods and encourage student-centered learning rather than teacher-focused lectures or textbook worksheets.
ReplyDeleteGreat list going here! I am an administrator and I hope that all administrators ask their teachers the same question!
ReplyDeleteModel each and everyday what it means to be the lead teacher in the building!
ReplyDeleteMake a point to be in every classroom as often as possible. Of course administrators have responsibilities outside the classroom, but every thing they do is supposed to be directly tied to the success of the students. How can they know truly what is happening--the wonderful and the not so, unless they are there to witness it? There is no need to wait to be invited.
ReplyDeletelisten.
ReplyDeleteencourage teacher collaboration, support teachers in every way possible, encourage projects and team work, visit classrooms and talk to students, work WITH the faculty, parents and students to make the school the best it could be.
ReplyDelete...provide high support to my teachers: provide ample professional development opportunities, advocate for them (in terms of time off, promotions, class size), allow them to take ownership of curriculum development, and encourage them to innovate in the classroom.
ReplyDelete...hold teachers to high expectations: ensure that all teachers are following accepted best practices, properly assessing and documenting student performance, dressing professionally & arriving on time, and holding students accountable to same expectations.
Not pick favorites
ReplyDeleteTrust that teachers are trained professionals with answers to the questions that educators need to address.
ReplyDeletemake sure i understood the academic content standards for all core classes, not just math
ReplyDeleteget over the love affair with desks.
ReplyDeletemake teachers responsible for their learning; give the students more say in their own learning and insist that teachers have digital hubs for their classrooms.
ReplyDeletecreate an atmosphere conducive for autonomy.
ReplyDeleteHire administrators with lots of experience in the classroom. We have admin who have less than 5 years In the classroom and can't effectively evaluate a teacher.
ReplyDelete...be a facilitator, not tower above others with an emphasis on encouraging and inspiring students and teachers to learn.
ReplyDeleteI love this question, and it is particularly timely for me as I have been a teacher for 20 years, but will begin as a principal next year. My list: model use of social networking tools and other forms of technology and give teachers time to play with the tools and each other in order to learn how to use them; be out in the classrooms -see the wonderful teaching going on and validate teachers in that, as well as the not-so-wonderful and support teachers in improving; know the children - understand how they learn, what they love, help them learn to problem solve situations in and out of the classroom, celebrate with them; be the lead learner in the school - pass on information and articles about current issues in education as well as best practices; say "yes" as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteEncourage teachers to take risks.
ReplyDelete