Part of our mission at my school is making feel everyone welcome, especially stakeholders as they play an important role in our school. Last year, a board member called, and whomever she talked to did not know her name. Consequently, she complained to the school leaders that staff did not know her name nor who she was. As a result, there was an email sent to all staff about it, and it emphasize the importance of knowing who the board members are and to address them by their name.
As in any organization there are those who go above and beyond their duties; those who are passionate about what they do. Therefore, I believe these individuals could be more effectively welcomed. However, one should acknowledge every single individual that crosses our path not just at work, but perhaps where ever we are. The least we could do is be cordial, smile. In my classroom, I think that I welcome everyone. One of my many duties is to ring the break and lunch bell. I go outside my classroom and stand there, I greet students as they come in. When I have visitors, I smile at them if I am busy and cannot approach them or if they are just stopping by for a quick second.
I have noticed that we do not welcome everyone equally, and not every staff member does it. It all starts with the leaders. They should model, enforce, and remind everyone of doing this task. The leaders tend to welcome the decision makers, such as board members. However, I rarely see that students are being acknowledge, and if they are, it is only a few. Teachers do not welcome board members, I have not seen this occur during my time with my school. During graduations, we tend to have a few board members and parents present, but we do not welcome them. It should be a task that we should all implement and practice on a regular basis.
Therefore, if I was the leader I would model welcoming behavior, implement welcoming policies, and encourage every staff member to welcome every individual that steps in our school. I would model it by standing outside the main entrance and greeting every student who comes in. At graduations, I would welcome parents and spend some time talking with them, especially since parents are not involved in the school because we serve students who are over the age of eighteen. Moreover, I would go to every classroom to greet teachers and students, and wish them a good day. If I cannot make it to the classrooms, I would send an email wishing everyone a good day and thanking them for being in school. Lastly, I think I can do these tasks to improve the school’s current position on welcoming stakeholders.
The five commitments that I shall implement and model to make my school a welcoming place are:
As in any organization there are those who go above and beyond their duties; those who are passionate about what they do. Therefore, I believe these individuals could be more effectively welcomed. However, one should acknowledge every single individual that crosses our path not just at work, but perhaps where ever we are. The least we could do is be cordial, smile. In my classroom, I think that I welcome everyone. One of my many duties is to ring the break and lunch bell. I go outside my classroom and stand there, I greet students as they come in. When I have visitors, I smile at them if I am busy and cannot approach them or if they are just stopping by for a quick second.
I have noticed that we do not welcome everyone equally, and not every staff member does it. It all starts with the leaders. They should model, enforce, and remind everyone of doing this task. The leaders tend to welcome the decision makers, such as board members. However, I rarely see that students are being acknowledge, and if they are, it is only a few. Teachers do not welcome board members, I have not seen this occur during my time with my school. During graduations, we tend to have a few board members and parents present, but we do not welcome them. It should be a task that we should all implement and practice on a regular basis.
Therefore, if I was the leader I would model welcoming behavior, implement welcoming policies, and encourage every staff member to welcome every individual that steps in our school. I would model it by standing outside the main entrance and greeting every student who comes in. At graduations, I would welcome parents and spend some time talking with them, especially since parents are not involved in the school because we serve students who are over the age of eighteen. Moreover, I would go to every classroom to greet teachers and students, and wish them a good day. If I cannot make it to the classrooms, I would send an email wishing everyone a good day and thanking them for being in school. Lastly, I think I can do these tasks to improve the school’s current position on welcoming stakeholders.
The five commitments that I shall implement and model to make my school a welcoming place are:
- Send greeting messages to students via email and/or the application Remind
- When someone has a major event; birth of a child, wedding, death in their family, etc… I’ll get a card and have it signed by everyone or have everyone write a separate message to the individual.
- Acknowledge individuals’ birthday. Perhaps have everyone sing happy birthday.
- Greet every individual
- Wish every individual a good day at the beginning of each day.