As tempting as it is for teachers to tell themselves that the only thing that matters is what they do in the classroom, it’s just not true. A happy and comfortable teaching career includes the ability for a teacher to reasonably exercise options like making grade or subject level changes, obtaining campus transfers or employment in other districts, or advancing to leadership or administrative positions. In tough economic times, teachers also need to be valued enough that they escape the lay-off axe. And occasionally, it’s nice to be in a position to receive consideration for honors and awards.
These career benefits can be boiled down to two necessary factors:
Do a good job at your job; and
Make sure that people know you have done a good job.
It’s like the old question “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” If we rework the question to ask “If a teacher does a good deed and no one knows about it, will it be considered when the Teacher of the Year is being awarded ?”- the answer is a resounding “No!” whether anyone is there to hear it or not.
The Tuesday Tasks feature is designed to help you further your career, or merely safeguard it, by offering simple things you can do a regular basis that will increase both your value to and visibility in the school. Enhancing your reputation as a “good” teacher and a “team player” can bring all sorts of benefits down the line. And as a teacher, one of the most valuable assets you have is your reputation. A good reputation can insulate you from false charges of inappropriate conduct by students, parents, and even other educators.
Today’s Tuesday Task Many people tend to judge the way we work by the way our workspace looks. A messy workspace can be seen by people as a messy workstyle. Although there is no correlation between the two in reality, there is in the minds of others, so it’s worth it to keep your desk and other work areas looking neat as much as possible.
Take 15 minutes to straighten all the books and papers on your work areas. Clear as much as you can off the work surfaces completely – either purging materials you don’t need, or placing in drawers and filing cabinets. Accept any compliments graciously.
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