2017.9.22
Stakeholder Blog Series (3 of 4)
It Takes a Village (Staff)...
“Outtakes”. A snippet of thoughts to kick off this blog post:
The students are why we are here. The faculty and staff are key in educating the whole child in a well-rounded environment.
What I am looking forward to putting into practice, or continuing:
Supporting teachers in their professional growth and feeling comfortable “taking chances” in moving forward.
Quote(s) that resonated with me this week:
“TEAM” (Together wE Achieve More)
This weeks blog will continue the four-week series on stakeholders in education. This has been exciting to think about because it factors in all of the moving parts that make an educational system operate. EdTechReview defines a stakeholder as follows:
“A stakeholder is anyone who is involved in the welfare and success of a school and its students, including administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, community members, school board members, city councilors and state representatives”. ( EdTechReview)
For the purpose of this series, we will focus on four specific groups of stakeholders: parents, community, faculty and staff, and of course, our biggest asset, students. As an educator as well as a parent of three school-aged children (Ellie, G7; Brooke, G5, Nicholas, G1), I will consider both perspectives throughout the series. Now, let us take a look at “Faculty & Staff”.
NCHS is truly a “community of caring”. The culture has been established that in order for everyone to do the best job possible and have the greatest impact on our students, there must be a comfortable, respectful work environment. This translates to an emphasis on the sometimes overlooked social-emotional piece that is so important in creating a positive learning environment. There is a commitment to educating the whole child and providing a well-rounded education to all children, at all levels. The fact that our superintendent and central office began the year with the district administrative team participating in a two-day Orange Frog workshop on the power of positivity, speaks volumes.
Teachers and administrators at NCHS work collaboratively to foster this positive learning environment while delivering their respective curriculum with the highest level of fidelity. Several teachers have taken part in sharing positive messages by submitting “quotes of the week” that are displayed on screens throughout the school and on the school website. Others have connected and share their enthusiasm and ideas through social media. There is a level of professionalism and respect that allows the faculty and staff to do their job with a level of comfort to not only teach children, but to take chances and try new, innovative ways of teaching and learning.
Support staff are actively involved on a daily basis to help guide, counsel, or simply pick up on small nuances that may indicate a student needs a little help. The nursing office is a hub of activity on any given day. Both the nursing and counseling staff see, hear, and experience situations that many people can not imagine and they do it with a smile and positive attitude. The amazing part is that it is not superficial because they feel it is what they should do. It is who they are, which makes this place special.
It is not by accident that administrative assistants, facilities and maintenance personnel, and food service providers are recognized last (save the best for last...). They are truly the main cogs that keep the NCHS operation running smoothly. The physical plant is maintained and ready on a daily basis. As the person who oversees the maintenance request tickets (on top of the daily operational responsibilities), this is no small task. Administrative assistants are often times the face and voice of the school as they field questions, provide assistance and resources and help everyone maximize their time to focus on student needs. Food service staff not only provide an amazing selection of healthy food options, they help the entire school avoid getting to the serious condition known as “hangry”.
Overall, it really does take a village to raise a child. It takes a great village to raise 1,325 of them and NCHS is just that. Considering students, faculty, and staff, the building welcomes and operates with over 1,500 people on a daily basis. This is bigger than some small towns in Connecticut. The collaborative efforts, the “team” meetings, the programming, preparation, and execution of goals and plans are all part of this process. The fact that this all comes together grounded with a positive attitude makes this truly an exceptional place.
Please feel free to contact or follow me:
Email: david.gusitsch@ncps-k12.org
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