Educator Relationships Part 2

In last week’s blog, we discussed the relationship between students and educators.  This week I’d like to look at our relationship with our co-workers.

A positive and effective school environment begins with the educator to educator relationship.  This relationship is every bit as important as the student to educator relationship.  We must work together!  

It seems like we spend more time with our co-workers than we do with our family!  It is important to develop this relationship and enjoy the people we work with.

It all starts with communication.

You must share information with each other.  Don’t be that individual that says, “no one tells me anything”.  If you don’t know, ask!  Talk to each other.

Start each day with a quick 5-minute meeting.  You simply share what you have on your schedule for the day.  You might also take this opportunity to point out a student that might need some support from other educators. 

These 5 minutes should be about the excitement of the day, not complaining about what is happening.  Encourage each other, support each other, learn about each other’s outside interests.  Be open-minded about each other. Be willing to learn from what the other person knows. 

One other thing, no matter what, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how the other person is acting, never talk smack about another educator.  Not to the other educators, not to the administration, and never, never, never, to the students.  It undermines your authority as an educator, it undermines their authority as an educator, and it is simply unprofessional. 

How is your communication with your co-workers?  Is it effective?  Or is there room for improvement?