Last week I was working with a client who is a transitioning teacher. We are in the “Focus” stage of our work together, during which I work with clients to develop a clear vision of what they are looking for and to get focused on what matters most.
We’ve talked a lot about what burned her out in her years of teaching, and why she feels called to leave the profession. At the same time, I see her eyes light up when she talks about students.
During our last session, I asked her to describe the school that she would want to teach in. She didn’t hesitate and launched right in with a clear vision. With her permission, I would like to share it with you.
- The administration is accountable, transparent, approachable, and flexible.
- No one is “scared” of the administration, but people stand up a little straighter when they walk in the room.
- The expectations are manageable. Teachers can arrive 30 minutes before the start of the day and leave 30 minutes after students leave on most days. There will be times where more is needed, but it is not the norm.
- The staff supports one another. They do nice things for each other. There are occasional staff events that are well attended. The adult culture at the school is inviting and welcoming.
- Students feel safe, respected, and educated. Similar to the teacher’s relationship with administration, no student is afraid of their teacher, but they stand a little straighter when they are in the room.
- Schoolwide discipline is reasonable and definable. It’s not just a bunch of buzzwords, but genuinely attends to the needs of students.
- Overall, there is a shared vision and all participants are held accountable when they operate in a way that is not aligned.
As she finished, I said “Wow, that was beautiful.”
My next thought was this: Isn’t that really what we all want from our work culture?
- Leadership that is accountable, transparent, approachable, and flexible
- Managable expectations, with the reserves to go above and beyond in rare instances
- Colleagues who support one another
- All members of the community feel safe and respected
- A shared vision for what the workplace should be
- And accountability for those who don’t act accordingly.
Sounds like a place I would want to spend my days.
How would you describe your ideal workplace? Anything you would adjust or add?
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