tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post4786076883982266935..comments2024-02-20T03:57:11.723-05:00Comments on Teaching Underground: What Teachers Want from their AdministratorsSteven Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01877542687619173741noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-36528000029387812772012-01-21T07:29:36.209-05:002012-01-21T07:29:36.209-05:00Hmmm...I had a somewhat different reaction to poin...Hmmm...I had a somewhat different reaction to point number one. While I agree we teachers need time to prepare for our incoming students, I don't know that right before school begins is the time to do it. If we KNOW we will be receiving PD at that time, wouldn't we be wise to do our preparation earlier? PD, when presented engagingly, is vital to keep education fresh - to remind us to embrace best practices, to use student data to inform our teaching, to have professional conversations with each other. Any profession requires its members to be prepared at the start of a project...to have done whatever it takes to be fully present when the meeting starts. In other words, make time to eat your breakfast before you get to school...Elizabeth Haddonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01571380982799570987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-8002654618514992162011-08-22T22:00:15.556-04:002011-08-22T22:00:15.556-04:00Critical of Admins?...sure...but they are bosses a...Critical of Admins?...sure...but they are bosses and it comes with the territory just as teachers deal with parent and student griping. I find most of the posts these guys put up are carefully crafted in such a way as to not intentionally offend anyone. Bottom line is that educators should work with and help kids. Too many are spending more time with each other in meetings, curriculum and computers. As a lifer in the classroom I have little patience for people whose degrees outweigh their worth. Further bad admins can make everyone's job tougher as opposed to bad teachers who just screw up kids. But I think there are plenty of both. Good ones out there too. What is frustrating is the current climate in schools seems designed to limit the effectiveness of both. One thing I will leave you with is this...I've been around long enough in 3 schools to see many ineffective teachers move up as opposed to out. It was a way to escape their surroundings without restarting from scratch. They are usually equally as bad as admins. :) Glad some admins read this blog too. I suspect if you do you are a good one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-15322447406262262042011-08-21T17:14:12.692-04:002011-08-21T17:14:12.692-04:00If I have paintedadministrators with a broad brush...If I have paintedadministrators with a broad brush it is due to my own lack of experience with administrators who have been relegated as on site property managers instead of teacher mentors and hands on student role models. We expect too much from our administrators when they are too busy orderdering toilet paper, textbooks and paint instead of watching the teaching/learning process and promoting tteacher collaboration and self-accountability. Their educational expertise and experience gets shelved and paperwork replaces people. Anyone else care to comment? I welcome administrators who feel they have more than enough time to be in the classroom and would like more time to dole out keys or get the copy machines fixed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-15143059279521110872011-08-21T14:02:21.543-04:002011-08-21T14:02:21.543-04:00To Anonymous #3:
I do hope that this post was per...To Anonymous #3:<br /><br />I do hope that this post was perhaps provocative without being offensive. I tried to use the last three paragraphs to emphasize the importance that adiministrators have had in my professional growth and career. (and continue to have)<br /><br />I do dislike having teachers painted with a broad stroke, and I'm sure that an administrator would feel similar about a post like this. But my invitation in the opening paragraph was an honest request-- What do administrators want from teachers?Steven Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01877542687619173741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-83798632294112736522011-08-21T13:51:27.503-04:002011-08-21T13:51:27.503-04:00Sometimes, perhaps without even realizing it, admi...Sometimes, perhaps without even realizing it, administrators are dismissive when talking to teachers. We are colleagues. Just because I CHOOSE to stay in the classroom doesn't mean I lack ambition. I will never understand how easy it is for administrators to forget how much classroom teachers need their support. It's as if amnesia sets in once that certification and new title are bestowed. We are all educators working for the empowerment of each other and our students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-74138059932297162542011-08-21T10:32:09.388-04:002011-08-21T10:32:09.388-04:00Although I understand where you are coming from by...Although I understand where you are coming from by blogging about what teachers want from their principal, many of your points could be transfered to teachers as well. <br />For example, your point about a building principal wanting to move to a higher position. Many building principals are quite content with being a principal. <br />Unfortunately for me, this blog comes off as teacher vs. administrator which is unfortunate (i.e. you get paid more than us). Although that statement is true it comes off as negative. If teachers don't want to be told about their salaries, they probably should not do the same thing to others. <br />As a building principal I spend as much or more time in the school than most of my teachers. I am an educator first and care deeply about our students and teachers. <br />In addition, many principals were teachers first and understand how diffcult the job can be. We, as administrators, know that our jobs are hard and we are ok with that, but it would be much easier if we knew that we had support from our teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-36639555484405984062011-08-16T21:16:34.755-04:002011-08-16T21:16:34.755-04:00I am so glad you wrote about this. You have made ...I am so glad you wrote about this. You have made some excellent points, and it was point number one that really hit home. I was trying to explain something very similar not so long ago. You hope people understand what you thinking, but, after reading your post, I now know that someone out there gets it. If there is one, there are others. Rock on!<br /><br />If you get the chance, I wrote something along similar lines about administrators on August 1, 2011. I would love for you to read it. <br /><br />http://undergroundteacher.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-administratorsits-simple-really.html<br /><br />If it is okay with you, I would also like to link your latest blog post on my blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445182336292537663.post-40051648119259158202011-08-16T19:32:36.337-04:002011-08-16T19:32:36.337-04:00-"Time is our currency"
-Administrators ...-"Time is our currency"<br />-Administrators who say "no" to things are great<br />-I always liked admins who got there before me, left after me, and were visible throughout the day(tough given today's responsibilities)<br />-Admins who are leaders and make things betterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com