Bringing Out the Best in Teachers

After five years as a middle school principal, I was thrilled to be appointed to my current position of high school principal. I inherited a wonderful high school with a veteran faculty and impressive student performances. (Go here to learn more about my school, my article is on page two) While I marveled at the past accomplishments of the students and teachers, believing in that being a great school is a process and not a location (to hear Jim Collins explain this, click here the moment you think you are great, you've lost it), I challenged the teachers to look for ways to make our school even better.

This did not go over well. The veteran teachers did not see any reason to change what they were doing. Early on, any suggestions I made was met with “Why should we change? Look at our test scores.” I realized I had made the rookie mistake of assuming everyone would view the situation the same way I did. I had to start over.

I reread one of my favorite books about school leadership Bringing Out the Best in Teachers by Blase and Kirby. The basic premise of the book principals will have a more influence with teachers with their interpersonal and technical skills than they will be trying to use their authority. Below is a list of strategies the authors encourage educational leaders to use to help teachers improve their performance and how I have attempted to incorporate them into my practice.

“Power of Praise”
I try to send handwritten notes to the teachers after major events; sports tournaments, plays, concerts. Email is faster, but the teachers recognize and appreciate that I took the time to write the note by hand. I take my laptop with me when I do walk-through observations. When I see something I like, I send the teacher an email from inside their classroom.

“Influencing by Expecting”
I try to clearly set my expectations and find that the majority of teachers will work hard to meet them. The most recent one was “In 2007-2008, technology is no longer optional”.

“Influencing by Involving”
I started an open leadership team this year. Any interested teacher may join and there is equal voice and equal vote. Many of the decisions that the department chairs used to make have been moved to this group.

“Granting Professional Autonomy”
The authors state that this is “the freedom to” do something, not “the freedom from” being observed! Simply put, encourage the teachers to take risks and support them if they do not work out as planned.

“Leading by Standing Behind”
Supporting the teachers with time, funding, and when necessary protection from over zealous parents. I also give the teachers permission to take care of themselves. The overachievers simply will keep pushing themselves.

“Gentle Nudges: Suggesting Versus Directing”
After observations, I will coach a suggestion with the phrase “I saw Mrs. Smith do x and it was successful for her. Think about trying it in your class”. This is particularly effective is Mrs. Smith is someone they respect.

Slowly over time, I have seen a number of teachers become more relaxed around me and open up a bit. Last week, I had the thrill of seeing a suggestion of mine become reality in a teacher’s classroom. The best part was that I did not make the suggestion to this teacher. I made it to a colleague of hers who not only implemented it but also shared the idea.

I would like to thank Scott for creating this wonderful resource and for the opportunity to share a few thoughts.

Alan Knobloch

Comments

[Glenn E. Malone]

Been thinking about getting this book...you've convinced me.

[Shaun McElroy]

One thing that all too often happens with new administrators is that they are convinced that to earn their mettle they must initiate CHANGE (or so it seems to their faculty) and wonder why it is not met with enthusiasm...and all to often the dissenters become known as resistors. To initiate change in educational settings (and I would argue the business and political world) you must start with the heart of the operation: Education is about relationships as much as it is about knowledge and learning--in fact more because the other two things do not need teachers. Not anymore...

Some of the long-term teachers will cross their arms and say "prove it" to every initiative. What they are seeking, what they crave is just acknowledgement. They want you to take it in, to appreciate what they have helped build and create. They are not resistant to change. They just need to know you are real and are sticking around a while...

Full disclosure: I work at SAS...

[Kimberly Moritz]

Thank you Alan, you gave me a lot to think about specifically your open leadership group. I do take most of my decisions to department leaders. The problem with that plan is that what I've asked is then presented to department members (or not) in many different ways, not necessarily the way I intended. I will consider how to incorporate this idea and others that you mention into my own leadership.

[Scott Elias]

Thanks for an inspiring post, Alan. I also like the idea of a leadership group that is more open to those willing to participate.

[Michael BOll]

Hi Alan,

Wow, you are such a cool dude! Had I known that you were so insightful, original and all around swell, I never would have gone to work at that other school!

[brian saxton]

Alan,
Very insightful post. One more thing that I get to glean from leadertalk, put in my principal to be folder and pull out when I stick my foot in my mouth.

Incidentally, the principal that I work for tried change as soon as we started and got the same response. I think that Shaun said it well, when he said What they are seeking, what they crave is just acknowledgement. They want you to take it in, to appreciate what they have helped build and create. They are not resistant to change. They just need to know you are real and are sticking around a while...

Once again, you have some great bits of knowledge here and I look forward to putting them to use.
Brian

[Jan Borelli]

This is simply awe inspiring! This is just the kind of post that makes this blog simply incredible. Each day as I read the posts here I start to have this feeling that what we are all creating here is of major import. It's great to be among you all. Scott... you seem to have put together a winning team. Thanks.