Neila A. Connors - If You Dont Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students!: Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers

Some peoples food always tastes better than others, even if they are cooking the same dish because one person has much more life in themmore fire, more vitality, more guts than others.

Rosa Lewis, British Hotelier

Cover by Geoffrey Brittingham and Marta Drayton

Edited by Jennifer J. Streams and Angela Reiner

Print Edition ISBN 978-1-62950-006-5

E-book Editions ISBN 978-1-62950-007-2 (PDF)

ISBN 978-1-62950-044-7 (EPUB)

ISBN 978-1-62950-045-4 (Mobi)

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Printed in the United States of America by Sheridan Books, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 1st printing November 2013

Dedication:

This book is dedicated to the memory of Guy Bennett, a wonderful human being and outstanding administrator.

I first met Guy in 1983, during my internship to his school in Venice, Florida, while researching his advisory program for my dissertation. Upon entering his school, my first thoughts centered around the friendly, warm, and inviting atmosphere. After a day of observations, I asked Guy what his secret was to creating a friendly and inviting climate. Guy replied, I have two beliefs. My first is that to be successful you must be acheerleader-leader.You stay on the sidelines and cheer the staff onappreciating all of their efforts, goodwill, and risk-taking. You dont punish the whole team for the faults of a few.

He continued, My second belief isIf You Dont Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students.I go above and beyond to make sure the teachers who are doing their jobsconnecting with kids and fulfilling our missionare rewarded, supported, and applauded. From that day forth, I have continually recognized outstanding administrators and noted their Guy-isms. Thus, the birth of this book.

As Orlo L. Day, Guys assistant principal for 16 years, stated, Guy Bennett was among the best of those principals who could amalgamate teachers of widely varied personalities and backgrounds into what he liked to call a family, each using God-given talents in making professional contributions to the intellectual and personal growth of students. Guy is missed deeply, but he left behind the legacy of a belief system that hopefully is addressed throughout the following pages.

Heres looking at you, Guy. ALOHA.

The best teacher is the one who NEVER forgets

what it is like to be a student.

The best administrator is the one who NEVER forgets

what it is like to be a teacher.

Neila A. Connors

Lets begin with a realitythis book is not research-based, focused on results of surveys, or theoretically driven. The information is based on observations, discussions, personal learning experiences, shadowing, and good ol common sense. Like Frank Sinatra, I did it MY WAY.

Consequently, if you are extremely left-brained and searching for statistics, micro-management strategies, or in-depth research studies to validate the forthcoming information, this book is NOT for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for some basic and practical ways to be an outstanding administrator, with FUN sprinkled throughout, read on. I hope you enjoy the dining experience. Bon Apptit!

Education is a serious business that requires every grain of being from individuals who want to invest in making a difference for students. It demands a serious commitment from people willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. Being an educator during these times is not easy. Why?

Plainly, educators are expected to deal with all of the issues and baggage children bring from their homes into learning settings. Children enter school doors every day either having just left a healthy, happy home where adults truly recognize the importance of a good education and raising self-directed children or having just left an empty house filled with empty promises and an empty refrigerator. On a daily basis, all walks of life arrive at school hoping they will be safe, fed, and assisted in realizing dreams. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Educators can make or break a childs day and ultimately have an impact on their future. The power of a teacher is ongoingwhether it is positive or negative. Thus is the business of education. We must continually work together to recognize that we truly do touch the futurewe teach. A difference is made when an individual teacher closes his/her door and connects with students. Consequently, to ensure that teachers are supportive of all students, we must create professional, safe, secure, and encouraging environments where everyone feels appreciated, listened to, and respected. Hence, the role of the administrator is the crucial element in determining the morale and climate of any given school.

So, why did I write this book? As someone who spends an extraordinary amount of time in schools working with administrators and teachers, I saw a need for reflection. Through my personal experiences, I can irrefutably state that successful schools only survive when there are successful administrators leading the way. As simplistic as this may seem, effective schools exist and persevere only when an exceptional leader with a vision is the head cook. Too often, the demise of a celebrated school occurs when a mediocre leader, who does not have the fire in his/her belly or passion to continue forging ahead, replaces a talented leader.

Successful administrators FEED their teachers continuously to make sure the students ARE NOT EATEN. Meaning, the best leaders focuson providing a climate where teachers are encouraged to take risks and act as coachesguiding students through journeys of success. Effective leaders ask, guide, delegate, communicate, encourage, and take risks. They make it abundantly clear that the people in the building are important, and theyll do whatever it takes to say thank you for winning efforts.

I am continually impressed with outstanding teachers. Those teachers who have overloaded plates, are minimally recognized or appreciated for their efforts. The student advocates who are sometimes forced to focus on a test-driven curriculum rather than a skills/process-based curriculum are the real heroes. Consequently, I wanted to share some ways administrators can applaud and support these great teachers. I agree with my friend and mentor, Jim Garvin, who shares, Teachers are the GOLD-COLLAR workers of the universe. If the information shared herein helps one administrator become a more positive, teacher-focused leader, I will be satisfied. In the meantime, heres a toast to all of those administrators who already effectively feed their teachers. You are the champions and the reason successful schools form the foundation of our society.