This post may contain affiliate links. See the full disclosure here. “It’s not often that I receive an email that does not include a due date, complaint or request.” This statement was embedded in a return email to me from an elementary school principal after I sent her a thank you! A sad statement but a truthful one I know. I realize by reason of the
How To Boost Staff Morale with Bizarre and FUN National Holidays
Years ago I heard about a leader that would greet her staff with “Happy National ______ Day!” and hand them a piece of gum, sticker, or a small token to go along with the holiday. I could imagine walking into her building with an expectation of celebrating something fun no matter how small…or how momentary. Different and fun…my two reasons for the creation of the
3 Ways Understanding Staff Dynamics at Work
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more details here. Photo by Zachary Nelson on Unsplash I was one of those principals who loved learning about temperament or character types. If you’ve been in the educational profession for any length of time you’ve taken them. Most tests have four different types (although the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® MBTI test® has 16). Perhaps you know
Every Administrator Should Go Back to the Classroom
All classroom teachers have had the thought. Every administrator should go back to the classroom…at least once! Teachers: Hey, maybe administrators will remember how hard it is! What about how much MONEY we pay out-of-pocket? Or how much TIME (not to mention “BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS”!) it takes to run a classroom? So I did. For one whole year. The long, gloomy hallway As a classroom
Staff Celebrations and Goal Setting
Do you celebrate your staff’s accomplishments? A few years ago, my husband and I traveled to a neighboring state to watch our grandson play baseball in a tournament. I believe he was 8 or 9 years old at the time. After winning a game, the coach sat them down (with all the parents and grandparents around) and proceeded to tell them everything they needed to
Get INTO the Classrooms…and Stay OUT of the Office!
(Photo credit: Tommy Brown) An active visible principal is a viable one. We’ve moved from the principal as a manager to one that is an effective education leader. But how do you balance those administrative business duties (office time) with making an appearance in the classrooms? I found the “Classroom Visitation Calendar” a valuable tool to document the principal’s time spent in classrooms. It was
Physical Touch: Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for details here. Physical Touch Physical Touch is included in the book, 5 Languages of Love which makes perfect sense to me. But when it comes to the workplace, the subject of physical touch gets…a little touchy! The authors of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace acknowledge this fact but believe “appropriate acts
Ideas for Appreciating Your Staff
It was alarming to me to read research released by The Gallup Group, that only 87% of the workforce is either partially engaged or totally disengaged. In other words, they are physically there but not mentally or emotionally. YIKES! I was in a store a couple of days later and sadly got a first-hand look at this. I asked the lady behind the counter a
BEACH THEME- Ideas for Décor, Food, & Activities
The creative and humorous lady in the picture above was my librarian, Lori. The library took on amazing transformations through her giftedness. Parents, staff, and kids absolutely loved her. This BEACH theme was incorporated in the last few weeks of school to get everyone ready for summertime. I want to show you Lori’s ideas that transformed the library and also a couple of ideas to
STICK A FORK IN IT!
Busy, busy, busy!! For most of you, the school year has come to an end. Congratulations! I hope you are taking the time for reflection and looking at all the positives this year held. If you are in a leadership position, I know some of you are already planning for next year…or…perhaps the next big thing. But please, please, give yourself permission to rest first.