HOW TO KEEP GOOD TEACHERS MOTIVATED
RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND
All teachers yearn for reassurance that they are doing a good job.
- Most principals recognize teachers’ efforts by offering positive feedback — both publicly and privately. Weekly memos and regular staff meetings, are the perfect forums for recognizing special contributions that teachers or other staff members make
- Encourage teachers to seek out professional development courses or workshops. Approve all reasonable requests. Then get extra mileage out of those sessions: Set aside time during each staff meeting, or arrange a special professional development day, so teachers can share with their peers the main ideas they learned from each session they attended.
- Encourage teachers to ask for the instructional supplies they require to facilitate teaching and learning. Provide reasonable requests from the budget.
- Be sure to publicly commend staff members who go above and beyond outside of the school day.
- Select a “Teacher of the Month.” “Teacher of the Term” Teacher of the Session” With a reward attached.
- To motivate professional development, arrange study groups (perhaps organized by grade level) to read a book or discuss and research a current hot topic.
- Set up a schedule to ensure that every teacher makes at least two visits to other teachers’ classrooms or other schools during the year.
