It is an exciting time, but this season of transition can be chaotic and often stressful for faculty, staff, students, and parents. A little bit of grace this time of year goes a long way.
When I was a school leader, I used to tell my staff that the end of the year was a time for putting on the “red shoes”…making sure to leave home needs at home and embracing each day with purpose; we are called to be the difference. Retention data shows that it is important now more than ever to ensure that all stakeholders end the year on a high note.
A school climate affects teacher satisfaction, morale, and expectations about staying in the profession (Garcia & Weiss, 2019). A high percentage of teachers do not feel appreciated, and this feeling can have an impact on their choice of staying or leaving the classroom. It would be beneficial for society to remember that teaching remains an extraordinarily noble profession with intrinsic rewards that few other disciplines experience (Vocke & Foran, 2017). There are many ways to show teachers support. Below are my five recommended “musts” to finish the school year strong, ensuring teachers feel valued.
Top Five Recommended “Musts” to Ensure Teachers Feel Valued Before the Summer Pause
- Handwritten Thank-You Notes: Write personalized notes to each teacher, highlighting specific contributions and expressing sincere gratitude. Encourage faculty and staff to write anonymous notes to one another. Positive energy is synergistic!
- Public Acknowledgment: Use school newsletters, social media, and assemblies to publicly recognize and celebrate teachers’ achievements and dedication. Use these last few weeks of school to promote and share the good that has happened on your school campus. Sharing the good can change a school’s culture.
- Classroom Resources: Provide teachers with additional resources or gift cards for classroom supplies as a token of appreciation and to ease their financial burden as they begin to plan this summer for the upcoming school year.
- Professional Development Stipends: Offer a stipend or provide a gift card for summer professional development courses, or educational reading materials, indicating investment in their continued growth.
- End-of-Year Celebration: Host a celebratory event to honor teachers’ hard work and achievements throughout the year. Include awards or small gifts to show appreciation. Have a discussion on the theme for the upcoming school year to help give direction (which will reduce stress) in helping teachers plan over the summer.
Give your team permission to put an “out of office” message on their email for a period of time to spend with family and friends, recharging so they can be all they are called to be for the upcoming school year. Building in a “time to pause” into one’s daily schedule, will allow teachers to come back to campus more creative, energized, and ready to accomplish team initiatives for the new school year.
Photo Credit: Anna Quattrone, Director of Marketing and Enrollment
Ultimately, it is essential to never underestimate the importance on greeting your faculty and staff as they begin the school day, providing an encouraging word or smile, and making sure your team members feel seen and heard. Teachers choose to serve in schools where they feel welcomed and appreciated.
Regardless of the time of year, it is always a good idea to thank a teacher for choosing to teach!
May the last few weeks of school be filled with joy and peace!
Denise
Denise Ball, Ed.D.
Recommended Reading
Carver-Thomas, D., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2019). “The Trouble with Teacher Turnover: How Teacher Attrition Affects Students and Schools.” Education Policy Analysis Archives, 27(36).
Garcia, J. R., & Weiss, N. (2019). Challenging working environments “school climates”, especially in high-poverty schools, play a role in the teacher shortage. Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved from https://www.epi.org/publication/school-climate-challenges affect-teachers-morale-more-so-in-high-poverty-schools-the-fourth report-in-the-perfect storm-in-the-teacher-labor-market-series/
Kraft, M. A., Papay, J. P., Charner-Laird, M., Johnson, S. M., Ng, M., & Reinhorn, S. K. (2020). “Educator Work Environments and Teacher Effectiveness: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study of Teaching Assignments.” Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 42(3), 436-460.
Podolsky, A., Kini, T., Bishop, J., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2019). “Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Educators: What Does the Evidence Say?” Education Policy Analysis Archives, 27(38).
