Chapter 2 - SUPPORT

I’m really peeved off right now because I had just finished my blog when it back spaced on me and deleted all the info I had just typed‼! Talk about frustration. So I will not be typing all my post using word to avoid another catastrophe like tonight.

First let me state that so far I’m enjoying these chapters of this book so far and will be trying a couple of these leadership connecting strategies with my fellow coaches this softball season/year. I’m hoping to build a strong foundation coaching squad so we can build a great overall softball program.

There are different types of support. Basic and essential ones like financial and supplies which are necessary for the everyday running of a school. I would feel VERY unwanted if my principal didn’t have a desk for me when I arrived to a new school. If the students don’t have the necessary books getting through lessons will be a lot more challenging and sometimes students wouldn’t be able to finish their homework at home. Last year my classroom was not swept in a timely basis. There was a month when my room was swept once a week for month and I literally had half a centimeter of dust on my floor. My students would constantly complain about it and I just felt like I was letting them down so I started sweeping the room myself.

More important for building teacher connections would be the emotional and human support provided by the leaders. Teachers need to feel like what they are doing matters. Leaders need to be visible and checking in with their teachers about any needs or wants. The story at the end of the chapter about the principal Mary just touched my heart. I wish I had a principal like that and I only hope that I can become a principal like her. Mary was visible from the very beginning of her principal career and she talked and really listened to her teachers. She made 72 welcome back supply boxes because she wanted her teachers to know they didn’t need to worry about supplies which is something I personally worry about in my own classroom. More importantly she wrote a personally letter to her teachers about herself and what she expected from them that school year. Mary then wrote personal notes to her teachers talking about things they would be working on throughout the school year. I know I’m repeating a lot of what Mary did but I want to be like her when I fill that leadership role. I’m going to make it a goal to be visible on my campus and know what is happening in my teacher’s classrooms by visiting them often and hopefully that means weekly.

That’s it for this chapter blog, until next time…

~Pat~