Shop by Topic
Shop by Product
ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues
<< Previous Issue
| View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> 
Lead Teacher vs. Assistant Director
November 1, 2011
True belonging doesn’t require that we change who we are. It requires that we be who we are.
-Brené Brown, researcher, author and public speaker
-Brené Brown, researcher, author and public speaker
"Reconsider the typical organizational structure that appoints an Assistant Director and consider instead having several lead teachers. This structure can encourage ambitious teachers who are seeking opportunities for growth or acceleration in the center. Instead of appointing one assistant director, you can recognize several strong teachers with a prestigious job title and appropriate center responsibilities....
"The director plays the role of chief delegator, and like any good delegator, he/she must understand everyone else’s job and monitor their performance. There are simple ways of staying on top of the lead teachers, such as requiring weekly reports and conducting weekly 20-minute meetings with the group to touch base. It is the responsibility of the director to define what is expected of each lead teacher, provide necessary training, and follow through with consequences and rewards."
This volume of Exchange Essentials includes 11 selected Exchange articles, in PDF format, providing tools and perspectives on building an effective team:- Step-by-Step Guide to Team Building
by Roger Neugebauer - Cohesive Teaching Teams — What Makes the Difference?
by Julie Powers - Indicators of Effective Team Work
by Margie Carter - Referee or Team Builder?
by Yvonne Jeffries - Lifting as You Climb
by Debra R. Sullivan - And 6 More!
ExchangeEveryDay
Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
What is ExchangeEveryDay?
ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
Are you frustrated by your current childcare software vendor? Discover all the advantages of EZ-CARE2 and save up to 75%! Learn more by visiting:
Large 15 Gal Commercial Container. Hands-Free “Step & Drop” Disposal. Clean Hygienic Enclosed System. Preferred by University Child Care.
Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsECEC
Springfield, OH, United States
Two years ago, through necessity, our leads chose to take on typical 'Assistant Director' responsibilities. It has been a great success! I was excited to read today's ExchangeEveryDay and would love to learn and share more about this strategy.
Aurora, ON, Canada
I see the merit in appointing "lead teachers" to encourage a feeling of growth in a job that often feels as though there isn't much chance for advancement. However, I still feel that this hierarchal model is not a good one. Mostly women, working side-by-side all day, often doing the same thing often find resentment when one person in their room is the "lead" teacher. I have found that a better way to help folks advance and feel challenged is to have people take on roles, such as the Literacy Leader, or the Children's Gardener, or the Science Maven. Having someone take on a specialty in their area of interest or expertise, is a win-win situation. I can remember a supervisor allowing me to go to the children's bookstore to choose books for the whole centre, as that was my area of knowledge and expertise. I was very happy and nurtured my interest in children's literacy, literature, and all things to do with books, etc. Another person was seen as an "expert" in cooking with the children.
I admit that people have to be groomed for the administrative roles too, but I argue that appointing "lead" teachers is not the most effective way to do it, nor does it promote teamwork.
Post a Comment