{"id":115,"date":"2013-12-09T22:39:26","date_gmt":"2013-12-09T17:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/attalim.ekhwan.com\/?p=115"},"modified":"2013-12-09T22:39:26","modified_gmt":"2013-12-09T17:09:26","slug":"building-a-great-teaching-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/taalim.ekhwan.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/09\/building-a-great-teaching-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Great Teaching Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Great Teachers = Great Schools<\/em><\/p>\r\n

In Hollywood they say casting is everything. If you pick the right actors to star in your movie, odds are better it will be a box office blockbuster. Same holds true for schools. If the staff and teachers are great, odds are much higher the school will be great. A great place to learn and work. So how does a principal find and maintain a stellar teaching staff? We surveyed 274 principals and assistant principals from private, public, and parochial schools across the U.S. to find out.<\/p>\r\n

Hiring Great Teachers<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Hire Who You Know<\/em><\/p>\r\n

You know the old adage: it\u2019s not what you know, but who you know. When it comes to hiring teachers, this appears to be true. Ninety-two percent of the principals and assistant principals we surveyed said they give first consideration to candidates they know personally or are recommended by someone they know. Seventy-one percent said they rely on recommendations from colleagues when hiring new teachers, 60% said they give student teachers a shot, and 47% of principals give subs more consideration than the average anonymous applicant. Only a quarter of those surveyed said they give first consideration to \u201coff-the-street\u201d candidates. One administrator even said she gives high consideration to candidates referred by parents. In short, go with who you know!<\/p>\r\n

Top Qualities Administrators Look for in Teaching Candidates<\/em><\/p>\r\n

A passion for teaching was the number one quality administrators look for in new teaching candidates. Eighty percent of respondents said it tops their list. One administrator said, \u201cDuring the interview process you can truly see the person loves to work with children and will do anything and everything to ensure students are successful.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The second quality principals look for when hiring are interpersonal or \u201csoft\u201d skills. Sixty percent mentioned this is a must in their teaching candidates. Soft skills like \u201cresiliency,\u201d \u201cself-confidence,\u201d \u201creflectiveness,\u201d \u201cflexibility,\u201d \u201ccommon sense,\u201d and the \u201cability to build rapport with students, staff, and parents\u201d were called out as incredibly important. And this holds true even more so at public schools, where 62% (versus 43% of religious school principals) noted it as a top priority.<\/p>\r\n

Rounding off the top three qualities was expertise in their field. Thirty-nine percent felt it was an important quality in teachers. Interestingly, only 13% said having an advanced degree was important, so it seems the expertise administrators value is hands-on experience. \u201cOver the years, those with teaching experience and student interaction have always been better staff than those with the higher degrees,\u201d said one administrator. \u201cMany have the very minimum in degrees; yet they seem to go above and beyond in reaching their students.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Best Ways to Attract Good Teachers<\/em><\/p>\r\n

When asked how to attract good teachers, most of the administrators we surveyed said you need to \u201cbe a school where people want to work.\u201d A good reputation is key. \u201cThe best ways to attract good teachers,\u201d said one principal, \u201cis to have a school recognized for high standards, enriched curriculum, teacher support, pleasant working environment, and opportunities to voice opinions.\u201d If your school is known for being a great school with a positive work environment, happy teachers, and a solid community, good people will want to work there.<\/p>\r\n

Other administrators stated that if you want to attract great teachers, you need to offer competitive salary and benefit packages. \u201cCompetitive salaries and benefits make a positive first impression when teachers come to interview with you,\u201d said one principal. If you don\u2019t have any wiggle room when it comes to salary, offering other perks like flexibility, assistance with continuing education, or professional development can also help attract good people.<\/p>\r\n

Retaining Great Teachers<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

According to our survey, the number one way to retain good teachers is to be supportive. Make them feel valued and appreciated. If you want to keep teachers, you need to \u201cprovide support for them and give them the utmost respect.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s also important to build trust. Listen to them. Have an open-door policy. Know they can come to you with any problem\u2014personal or professional\u2014and have your ear.<\/p>\r\n

And it goes without saying that creating a safe, positive work environment where teachers can thrive is a must. Create a school culture based on mutual respect. Having camaraderie amongst the staff is vital. To retain great teachers, morale must be high. If people are happy, they\u2019ll do their best and stick around.<\/p>\r\n