What Teachers Expect

08/03/2011

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. That, more or less, is the short answer to the supposedly incredibly complicated and confusing question of what we humans should eat in order to be maximally healthy.
Michael Pollan, American professor, author of In Defense of Food (and others)

The article, "Building and Rebuilding Your Credibility," one of twelve classic articles in the Exchange Essentials: Leadership Challenges spells out what teachers expect from a center director...

- Staff expect you to be an expert. Staff respect a director who knows her stuff, who really understands how to deliver quality child care. They need to know that if they have a problem they can turn to the director and know they will get the support and guidance they need.

- Staff expect you to know what's going on. The most frequently voiced complaint about bosses is that they are out of touch with what is happening on the floor. A director loses credibility when teachers perceive (whether correctly or not) that he doesn't understand (or care about) the day-to-day issues they face.

- Staff expect you to listen. Nothing is more demotivating than to believe that others do not respect your judgment. Teachers need to believe that the director values their opinions and takes their input (whether requested or volunteered) seriously.

- Staff expect you to be fair. In order for staff to respect you, they need to be convinced that you will treat them fairly when it comes to scheduling, raises, discipline, and attention.

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