What One School Administrator Wants To Tell New Teachers

I have been a high school administrator for over ten years and in that time I have worked with hundreds of teachers.  Here’s what I wish I could say to every new teacher.  Not only will these tips help you succeed in the profession, but these are considerations when assessing whether a teacher would be a good fit at my school.

1. Prioritize being a good colleague.

One thing I am always struck by is how many on-campus issues have nothing to do with students.  Many disputes fall under the realm of professional relations.  Unfortunately, I’ve seen the role of “colleague” take a back seat to the role of “educator” far too often.  It shouldn’t.  

Both roles are important, but being a good coworker is definitely harder to discuss and address with teachers.  It is much easier to help you improve your instructional strategies than it is to teach you how to be an excellent colleague.  

2. Take care of yourself and your personal life.  

If you are sick, having personal issues, feeling run down, or just disenchanted with the profession, take a personal day.  Whatever distraction, anger, or stress you are feeling tends to reveal itself in your classroom. The students notice.  

This is often when relationships with students or colleagues can become contentious.  It doesn’t need to be this way.  Take a day or two to deal with life.  Frankly, it is much better to have you out for a day than to deal with the fallout of you snapping at a student or saying something you regret to the teacher down the hall.

To read more about ways to promote well-being in the profession, check out “New Teacher Self-Care: A Practical Plan to Start Tomorrow”.

3. Be reasonable.  

If you are reasonable with students and parents, you’ll typically get a positive outcome.  But on those rare occasions when students or parents are combative, your “reasonableness” makes it very easy for me, the administrator, to defend you.  

So go ahead and give multiple opportunities to re-do an assignment to that student who works 30 hours a week.  Provide alternate assessments for that student with learning disabilities.  You know that kid who is never tardy but quietly slipped in late today?  Use it as an opportunity to subtly check in with the student instead of an instance to enforce your tardy rule.  Being reasonable helps establish your reputation as a teacher who has the best interest of the student in mind.

4. Let parents know that you like their child. 

 

This is probably the best advice I can give you when it comes to your parent interactions.  Make sure that parents know that regardless of the behavior, you think their child is great.  Rightly or wrongly, if they get the sense that you don’t like their child, parents will take anything you do or say as vindictive against the student.  By making sure parents know you have their child’s best interest at heart, you’ll typically have their support when you stick to your classroom policy or are firm with behavior issues.

5. Show meeting etiquette.  

Get there on time, or better yet, a few minutes early.  Participate in the meeting by putting your grading and your phone away.  You will probably see other teachers tapping on their phones during the staff meetings.  We see them too.  And we feel just as bad as you do when your students choose phones over your lecture.  We, like you, have prepared for the meeting and would appreciate your attention and participation.

6. Work your contractual hours. 

 

People notice when colleagues come in late or leave early. It sends the wrong message, particularly if you are a new teacher.  It’ll damage your professional reputation.  Even if the last period is your prep, you should stay on campus throughout the contractual day.  If you are going to come in late or leave early for an appointment, email your administrator.

7. Fulfill your extra duties.  

Schools cannot function without teachers doing extra duties–so much so that they are often embedded in the contract.  It may sound silly, but if you are contractually required to attend department meetings, faculty meetings, professional development, be a club advisor, or anything else, you should be there.  Being responsible for fulfilling your job-related duties reflects professionalism.  Your colleagues will view you as a team player.  

8. Don’t disparage other teachers in front of your students.

You may not even realize yet how tempting this might be.  Remember, you will likely work with your colleagues for much longer than any individual student.  Value good relations with your co-workers over the fleeting reverence from a group of teenagers.

9. Think hard before you hit reply all or send out an all-school email.  

Everyone’s inbox is packed and receiving a thread of “reply alls” is generally not desirable. You may think you are being funny, heck you might even be funny, but it is a professional organization and you should avoid clicking “reply all”.  

If it is a response that everyone NEEDS to know, feel free to reply to all.  However, most of the time it is fine to respond only to the sender.

As for sending out all-school emails, you generally want to avoid those. Unless you’re announcing that there are treats in the staff lounge.  Then, send away.  

Amanda Melsby has been a professional educator for 20 years.  She taught English before working as an assistant principal and later as a high school principal.  Amanda holds an Ed.D. in Educational Practice and Leadership and is currently a dean of teaching and learning.